Sharon’s story: sustainable energy for South African communities

Sharon Gcwabe has a vision for a sustainable future where renewable energy is accessible to all. With her company, Bio Renewable Energy, she is bringing that vision to life and uplifting rural South African communities in the process. Here, she shares her entrepreneurial journey and reveals how our Road to Growth programme supported her success.

“My name is Sharon Gcwabe, and I am the founder of Bio Renewable Energy in South Africa. I am a wife, a mother of four, and a businesswoman navigating many roles at once. My journey into entrepreneurship and renewable energy is deeply personal, shaped by both my professional background and my vision for a sustainable future. 

For more than 15 years, I worked in the oil and energy sector, mainly within one of the major international oil companies. My role as a business consultant involved advising on customer growth, service quality, and site maintenance. In many ways, I was already functioning like an entrepreneur; identifying gaps, innovating, and helping businesses grow, yet I was doing it within the framework of someone else’s company. By 2009, I felt the urge to start my own journey. I applied for a wholesale license through the Department of Minerals and Energy, marking the start of my entrepreneurial path. 

In 2018, I decided to transition fully into renewable energy. Bio Renewable Energy was born out of both necessity and vision. The future of energy lies in sustainability, biofuels, solar, wind, and battery storage, and I wanted to position myself at the forefront of this shift. For me, renewable energy is not just about large corporations; it starts in our homes and communities. Loadshedding, unreliable access to energy, and the impact of global warming are daily realities in South Africa. I know this first hand as a mother helping my children with homework in the dark. That lived experience fuels my drive to remove barriers and expand access to reliable, modern energy.

Renewable energy is also a highly male-dominated industry, as was oil and petroleum before it. As a woman, I often feel the pressure to prove myself twice over. I’ve faced financial barriers, scepticism, and the constant need to explain why I belong in the room. Yet, I believe women bring something unique: attention to detail, order, and the ability to nurture ecosystems that extend beyond business to families and communities. Mentorship and skills development are critical to me because I am aware of how many women shy away from this sector due to its male-dominated nature.

My business is not just about building energy projects; it is about creating jobs, training opportunities, and uplifting rural communities. Currently, we are expanding into provinces like Limpopo, the Western Cape, the Northern Cape, and the North West. Along the way, programs like Road to Growth have been invaluable. They equipped me with tools in digital marketing, financial literacy, and negotiation skills, enabling me to strengthen my brand, secure funding, and compete with established corporates. Digital financial tools such as online banking, merchant services, and payment gateways have also transformed how I run the business, making us more efficient and accessible. 

To me, success means freedom, pride, and legacy. It means leaving something behind for my children while building a business that impacts communities across South Africa and the continent. My hope for the future is to scale Bio Renewable Energy into a leading, women-led renewable energy company in Africa, one that creates sustainable jobs and partners with schools to promote early education. It inspires the next generation to think differently about energy and our planet. 

Supporting women entrepreneurs is not just about individuals; it is about helping families, communities, and entire nations. When you invest in a woman, you invest in an ecosystem. I know this because I am living it every day.”