Women in Renewables | Rhiannon de Wreede

Women in Renewables | Rhiannon de Wreede

In this episode of Energy Unwrapped, I’m joined by Rhiannon Dirid to talk about her journey into renewables, starting from a simple DIY plumbing fix through to working across solar, heat pumps and wider home energy systems.

This is a brilliant episode because it shows how people actually enter the industry. Not through a perfect, planned route, but through curiosity, learning on the job and taking opportunities when they come up. Rhiannon shares how she retrained in plumbing, struggled to find experience, and eventually moved into renewables where things really started to click.

A big part of the conversation is also about women in renewables, the barriers that still exist, and how the industry can open up to more people. It is an honest look at training, confidence, career changes and why there is still a lot of work to do to bring more diversity into the sector.

What we cover in this episode

• how Rhiannon got into renewables from a DIY plumbing fix
• retraining as an adult and doing a plumbing diploma
• the challenge of finding work experience in the trade
• moving from plumbing into solar, batteries and heat pumps
• working across installs, surveying and design
• how social media helped connect with the industry
• training routes, including hydronics and system design
• real-world home setup with solar, battery, heat pump and EV
• how tariffs change as you add more tech into the home
• barriers for women in renewables and how to improve access
• why communication and real homeowner examples matter

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Full Transcript

Below is the full transcript for this episode, lightly edited for readability.

From Fixing a Tap to Starting a Career in Renewables

Rhiannon’s journey starts in a very relatable way. A broken tap and toilet at home, no plumber available, and a decision to just have a go. That first experience led to learning basic plumbing skills, helping a friend, and eventually deciding to take it further with a formal plumbing course. It is a great example of how small practical steps can lead to much bigger career changes.

Retraining as an Adult and Taking a Plumbing Course

Rhiannon talks through her experience as an adult learner, juggling family life while completing a plumbing diploma. The course itself was a starting point, but like many training routes, it did not automatically translate into real-world confidence or competence. That gap between training and experience is something that comes up a lot in the conversation.

The Challenge of Finding Work Experience in the Trade

One of the tougher parts of the journey was simply getting a foot in the door. Rhiannon shares how difficult it was to find someone willing to let her gain experience, even offering to work for free. Comments about age and gender still came up, which highlights some of the barriers that still exist in parts of the industry.

Moving From Plumbing Into Renewables

Things started to shift when Rhiannon moved into a role with a renewables-focused company. This opened up exposure to solar PV, batteries, EVs, MVHR and heat pumps, giving a much broader understanding of how modern home energy systems fit together. That hands-on experience across multiple technologies became a key foundation.

Learning Through Social Media and Industry Connections

A really interesting part of the story is how social media played a role. Platforms like Twitter (at the time) helped Rhiannon connect with others in the industry, leading to opportunities, introductions and eventually roles within the renewables space. It shows how much of this sector still runs on community and shared learning.

Heat Pump Design, Maths and Why It Matters

As Rhiannon gained experience, she became more interested in the design side of systems, particularly the maths behind heating. Flow rates, system sizing and proper design calculations started to stand out as areas that were sometimes overlooked in practice. This ties into a wider theme you often talk about: good outcomes come from good design, not just good equipment.

Training, Hydronics and Better Installer Knowledge

The conversation also covers training in more depth, including exposure to hydronics-focused courses and the importance of understanding system behaviour, not just fitting components. This is where the industry has been improving, with more focus on proper design tools and better training pathways for installers.

A Real Home Setup: Solar, Battery, Heat Pump and EV

Rhiannon also talks through her own home setup, which includes solar panels, battery storage, a heat pump and an EV. It becomes clear how each addition changes how you think about energy, especially when it comes to tariffs and when to use electricity. Every new piece of kit adds another layer of decision-making.

Smart Tariffs and the Complexity of Real Homes

A great moment in the episode is the discussion around tariffs and how quickly things get complicated. Once you add solar, batteries, EV charging and heating into the mix, the “best tariff” is no longer obvious. It becomes a balancing act between cost, convenience and sometimes just what works for day-to-day life.

Women in Renewables and Industry Barriers

A major theme in this episode is the experience of being a woman in the industry. Rhiannon shares both positive experiences and some of the challenges, including assumptions about capability and access to opportunities. The conversation also highlights that there are many roles beyond being on the tools, from design and surveying through to customer engagement and community work.

Why Representation and Outreach Matter

We also talk about how to bring more people into the industry, particularly women. Early exposure in schools, better visibility of role models, and clearer messaging about the range of roles available all come up as important factors. This is especially relevant given the scale of growth expected in heat pumps and home electrification over the coming years.

Why Real Stories Help Drive the Energy Transition

Towards the end of the episode, the focus shifts to the importance of real-world stories. Homeowners and professionals sharing their experiences can help demystify the technology and make it more accessible. That is something this podcast is doing really well, and this episode is a great example of it.

About the Energy Unwrapped Podcast

Energy Unwrapped is my podcast about renewables, home electrification and how energy technology works in the real world. You can browse all episodes, platform links and future updates on the main Energy Unwrapped Podcast page.

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