Empowering change: Argonne hosts Women Energy Leaders training program

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Net Zero World Initiative, DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory hosted the Climate Smart Women Energy Leaders (CSWEL) program, providing two weeks of in-depth training for 12 women energy leaders from Net Zero World partner countries. This initiative, which builds technical collaboration with countries on energy technology and policy and workforce development, brought women leaders from Argentina, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Thailand and Ukraine to the U.S. for knowledge exchange on advanced building technologies, electric mobility and battery energy storage systems. 

The CSWEL program, hosted at Argonne and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), emphasized technical training in areas critical to sustainable energy. Participants, known as Women Energy Leaders (WELs), engaged in technical sessions, leadership training and testbed visits, and developed action plans to champion energy solutions tailored to their countries’ needs. 

Empowering women through technical training 

Clarisse Kim, technical program manager for the Net Zero World Initiative, emphasized that the program’s purpose is twofold: providing technical training and fostering a network of women leaders to accelerate sustainable energy development globally. ​“By building skills and a strong support network, we’re empowering these leaders to return home ready to make a difference,” said Kim. ​“They leave with a wealth of knowledge and a concrete action plan to implement in their countries. These include strategies for economic diversification, investment mobilization and technology deployment to support energy solutions and socioeconomic benefits such as job creation.”

Argonne provided the perfect setting for this learning. Participants toured laboratory test bed facilities including the Smart Energy Plaza, Advanced Mobility Technology Laboratory and Materials Engineering Research Facility. These specialized environments are designed for rigorously evaluating scientific theories and new technologies under controlled conditions. Participants also engaged with researchers to understand the latest developments in energy technology. At NREL, they visited the Energy Systems Integration Facility, the Battery Thermal Test Facility and the Flatirons Facility, experiencing U.S.-led innovations in renewable energy and grid resilience.

“By building skills and a strong support network, we’re empowering these leaders to return home ready to make a difference.” — Clarisse Kim, technical program manager for the Net Zero World Initiative 

Beyond technical sessions, the WELs participated in leadership workshops and team-building exercises. These sessions were designed to help participants translate their technical expertise into actionable plans for sustainable energy in their countries, according to Bruce Hamilton, program lead for global energy solutions at Argonne and chair of the Net Zero World Lab Leadership Council. ​“These women have the potential to be powerful agents of change in the global energy sector,” Hamilton said. ​“By combining technical knowledge with leadership coaching, Net Zero World Initiative is positioning them to lead projects and policy changes that align with their countries’ goals and priorities.”

Building a global network of clean energy champions 

Participants also valued the program’s emphasis on collaboration and peer-learning. Svitlana Sushko, a WEL from Ukraine, shared her thoughts on the experience: ​“I think this program is helpful for all the participants as we discover so many common things among us, and at the same time so many differences in the policies and culture. I find it exciting. I feel the environment is very supportive and makes everyone grow.” 

Through group activities and networking sessions, the WELs built connections they can rely on as they lead energy projects in their home countries. At the training session, Reshma Singh, director of CSWEL, spoke on the critical role of empowering communities through women’s leadership. ​“If women truly become agents of change, they can completely transform the world. The challenge is how to empower and inspire these women leaders to understand their own potential.” 

The CSWEL program aligns with the DOE’s mission to foster international partnerships that advance resilient and sustainable energy development. By supporting these leaders, Argonne and the Net Zero World Initiative are nurturing a global network dedicated to a sustainable energy future. Kim sees the initiative as a critical step forward in global energy development: ​“CSWEL is about inspiring, equipping and connecting women who are capable of effecting real change in their countries,” she said. ​“The program ensures that they have both the tools and support to make a lasting impact. Many of the WELs are also driven to help further build the energy workforce and local capacity for women students, entrepreneurs and energy professionals. The program helps build a resilient network of leaders ready to tackle the challenges of sustainable energy and economic development.”

For more information about the Climate Smart Women Energy Leaders program, visit the DOE website.

Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://​ener​gy​.gov/​s​c​ience.