The Need for Diversity in the Energy Sector

1st October 2025 | Energyz Black

Diversity & Inclusion isn’t trend washing but integral to climate action. This article examines why diversity matters for innovation, justice and climate solutions.

The UK’s energy sector is powering the nation’s net zero ambitions but it’s leaving diversity behind. While Black professionals make up 4.4% of the UK workforce, they account for less than 2% of roles in energy. This imbalance isn’t just about representation; it limits innovation, resilience, and the sector’s ability to serve all communities fairly.

Conversations about diversity in the energy sector are everywhere – in panels, conferences, networking events, and more. It has become the “new cool” and while it’s good that people are talking about it, we must remember that this is not a trend, nor a PR exercise. It is a fight for a very important cause. Diversity is not the goal. It is the most effective strategy we have to achieve the real goal: eliminating the threat of climate change. And it’s high time we approached it from that angle. A struggle for diversity reveals a hard truth: we have not fully recognised the magnitude of the threat we face.

Driving Change in Clean Energy and Beyond.

Energy is broad. It powers every home, business, and system in our world. The way we generate, distribute, and consume energy impacts every single person without discrimination. Without a decisive transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy, our world is headed toward irreversible damage. The threat of climate change is not distant; it is here, and it is accelerating. If this threat affects all of humanity, then all of humanity deserves the chance to fight it, regardless of race, gender, faith, or background.

If there is an imminent war against a far greater enemy, would we select soldiers based on skin colour, gender, or accent? No. We would call upon everyone capable of contributing; valuing courage, skill, and strength above all else. Climate change is that enemy, not the dark-skinned fellow beside you, nor the woman across the table, nor the one with a different belief from you. To win, we need every mind, every skill, and every perspective at the table. Diversity in the energy sector is not a box-ticking exercise; it is a necessity. When talent is drawn from only one demographic, solutions are shaped by limited experiences, similar assumptions, and blind spots.

In contrast, diverse teams bring richer ideas, challenge the status quo, and produce more innovative and enduring strategies. In a sector as complex and high-stakes as energy, those differences can mean the difference between success and failure.

The Diversity Gap in Energy

The reality? There is a big diversity gap as black professionals are the least represented in leadership and technical roles across the UK energy sector. According to a Energy Systems Catapult (2021) report, only 2% of the UK energy workforce identifies as Black, despite representing 4.4% of the national population. While some of this reflects occupational and regional variations, it also highlights persistent barriers to access in energy and STEM careers. In an industry employing over 850,000 people across traditional and green energy roles, this is not just a social gap it is a strategic weakness.

Communities impacted by energy policies and projects are diverse. It is only right that the people making those decisions reflect that diversity. Anything less is a disadvantage we cannot afford. To the captains of industries in the energy sector, if you choose those in your ranks from one demographic, you will never harness the full power of all. Build teams that are as diverse as the world you serve.

At Energyz Black, we believe the fight for a sustainable energy future is inseparable from the fight for equity. Both demand competence, urgency, and inclusion. If the threat is for all, then the solution must be built by all. Anything less is failure.

As we reflect on Black History Month, let’s not just celebrate; let’s take action. Let’s challenge biases, champion diversity, and create workplaces and communities that truly reflect the values of inclusion and belonging.

References:
Intersectionality in the careers of ethnic minority energy professionals. (n.d.). UKERC. Intersectionality in the careers of ethnic minority energy professionals | UKERC 

Working age population. (2023, March 31). GOV.UK Ethnicity Facts And Figures. Working age population – GOV.UK Ethnicity facts and figures

ONS, “Estimates of green jobs, UK: July 2025” (690,900) Estimates of green jobs, UK – Office for National Statistics

Office for National Statistics (2024). Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES): Energy Production and Supply Employment. https://www.ons.gov.uk/

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