Solar Diversity Champion Awards 2024

The Solar Diversity Champion Awards, launched by SolarPower Europe in 2021, will return in 2024 to recognise organisations in the European solar sector that have made outstanding efforts towards achieving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The award aims to increase visibility and awareness around the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the solar sector, as well as to highlight successful initiatives and practices that can serve as shining examples for others. 

With the solar sector expected to supply at least 1.2 million jobs in 2027, it is crucial to ensure that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are integrated into the workforce. For example, Solar is the most gender-balanced renewable energy technology, with women making up 40% of the solar workforce. However, there is still much more work to be done to improve gender equality and diversity more widely, at all levels of an organisation, in particular when it comes to the share of underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers and senior management. In 2022, women held less than 20% of senior management positions (17%), and under a third of STEM positions (32%) within the solar industry. 

The awards will acknowledge and celebrate organisations that have demonstrated commitment and success in creating diverse, inclusive work environments. By highlighting such organisations, SolarPower Europe hopes to encourage more companies to prioritise Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workplace, leading to a stronger and more innovative solar industry. 

The proposals of companies participating in the European Solar Diversity Champion Awards 2024 will be reviewed by a selected jury. The three finalists will present their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion stories at the European Solar Diversity Champion Webinar on the 3rd of October. Following the votes of the participants, the Gold, Silver, and Bronze European Solar Diversity Champion 2024 winners will be announced. 

For the European Solar Diversity Champion Awards 2024, we invite companies active in the solar sector to share their diversity initiatives and successes.

For your application, please answer the following questions: 

• Company Name 
• Company Address 
• Company Contact for this Award 
• Email of Company Contact 
• Mobile Phone Number of Company Contact 
• What is the size of your company in terms of employees? 
• What was the initiative put in place in your company to improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? 
• How are your employees benefiting from the initiative and what are some concrete results you are seeing? What was the starting point and where are you now? 
• What makes your programme / initiative special? What was the reason for choosing this initiative / programme?  
• What were the hurdles to be overcome and how did you manage them?  
• Are you sharing your experience with others/are you part of a network? 
• Can your initiative be easily taken up by other companies? 
• Why should this activity win? 

18/07/2024 – Competition opens  

03/09/2024 – Deadline for Applications 

19/09/2024 - Announcement of 3 Finalists 

03/10/2024 - Finalists presentations at the European Solar Diversity Champion Webinar 

Winner Gold Solar Diversity Champion 2024 

Visibility and presentation at the European Solar Diversity Champion Webinar 

Press release to solar media outlets, and related media opportunities 

Featured interview on SolarPower Europe’s website and in monthly newsletter (28k+ subscribers)  

Featured social media post  

1 free speaking slot at an upcoming SolarPower Europe event  

Winner Silver Solar Diversity Champion 2024 

Visibility and presentation at the European Solar Diversity Champion Webinar 

Included in press release to solar media outlets 

Q+A blog on website  

Featured in a social media post 

Winner Bronze Solar Diversity Champion 2024 

Visibility and presentation at the European Solar Diversity Champion Webinar 

Included in press release to solar media outlets 

Q+A blog on website 

Featured in a social media post 

Please do not hesitate to contact Charlotte Otten at c.otten@solarpowereurope.org or Miroslav Mitras m.mitras@solarpowereurope.org for any questions or comments.