Renewable energy business development support

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and business development support

New and small energy businesses often face challenges in managing their business and keeping financial records. Poor financial records make it difficult to get investments and loans.

We developed the Energy Enterprise Coach (EEC) through the Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Clean Cooking (SEE Clean Cooking) and Energising Development (EnDev) programmes. The EEC programme offers group trainings and mentoring adapted to the needs of SMEs.

Results of business development support

The EEC has helped build stronger energy businesses and create lasting support networks, resulting in:

• SME growth in Africa and Asia: Between 2022 and 2026, the EEC supported over 400 SMEs in 18 partner countries in Africa and Asia (15 in Africa and 3 in Asia). 
• Support for women business owners: The EEC has supported 71 women-owned energy businesses with business coaching, financial management training and mentoring. 
• Successful training sessions: The EEC ran 119 training sessions for 524 participants on clean cooking, off-grid solar energy, productive use of energy and mini-grids. 89% of the participants were satisfied with these sessions.
• National advisory networks: The EEC trained national business advisers in partner countries to create advisory networks. These networks continue to support energy businesses after the projects end.

Lessons learnt

Our work with energy SMEs taught us 4 main lessons: 

• Support must be flexible and meet business needs. Business support works best when adapted to each company's size, skills and the local market. Support can mean online learning or direct coaching. Targeted outreach is also essential to reach women entrepreneurs. 
• Combine trainings step by step. Combining online learning, group trainings, individual mentoring and networking with investors works best when organised step by step. This allows small energy businesses to move smoothly from basic training to intensive individual coaching as they grow. 
• Professionalisation is essential for growth. Developing professional business habits is essential to long-term success. Simple tools like bookkeeping templates, sales trackers and business plans improve performance when they are used every day. Poor financial management is the biggest obstacle to business growth.
• Connect businesses with broader support networks. Connecting energy businesses to lenders, industry groups and other development programmes builds trust and long-term sustainability. These connections help small businesses get loans and other support.

Information materials

We will publish information materials on business development support below when they are available.