Strategy and delivery for clean cooking and energy systems

Strategic direction and practical delivery for clean cooking and energy systems projects.

Our work and partnerships span strategy, market intelligence, ventures and investment, mobilising capital to turn clean cooking strategies into action.

If you're exploring, developing or funding clean cooking or energy transition initiatives and want practical input on strategy or delivery, let's talk.

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Clients and projects

Examples of previous projects

Note: Only a subset of projects are being shown here — use the filters below to change which case studies appear. For more details or additional case study examples, please get in touch.

AnalyseStrategyInvestment

National Clean Cooking Market Assessment & Strategy

The World Bank / ESMAP

The challenge: One-third of Botswana’s population relies on polluting fuels, and high national inequality means market forces alone cannot bridge the affordability gap.
My role: Led the demand, supply, and technical market research and co-designed a targeted intervention strategy to reach 260,000 households.
Why it mattered: Bridged the gap between high-level national targets and actionable, private-sector-led delivery backed by public, carbon, and results-based finance.

FacilitateStrategyInvestment

Global Climate & Poverty Impact Investment Strategy

Acumen

The challenge: Social enterprises at the intersection of climate resilience and poverty face distinct scaling hurdles, requiring a departure from standard venture funding models.
My role: Facilitated alignment workshops and ran external validation consultations across global pipelines to refine investment guidelines and white papers.
Why it mattered: Validated and shaped a $150M global strategy deploying patient capital to high-impact climate solutions.

AnalyseStrategy

Global Taxonomy for Clean Cooking Subsidies

World Bank (Ci-Dev)

The challenge: Clean energy transitions require public subsidies in low-income settings, but poorly designed mechanisms distort markets and waste public resources.
My role: Developed a comprehensive taxonomy of 17 subsidy models and built a scorecard evaluating cost-effectiveness, market distortion, and equity.
Why it mattered: Provided global policymakers with an indexing tool to deploy public finance that effectively crowded in carbon and domestic funding.

Services

Four ways we work with clients

Clean Cooking Consulting provides strategic direction and practical delivery across clean cooking and the energy transition, helping governments, investors, and partners mobilize capital and activate clean cooking strategies.

Traditional cooking stoves over open fires

Strategy

Strategic direction and facilitation for governments, investors, and enterprises—from positioning and external validation of investment theses through to sequenced, actionable roadmaps that teams can actually deliver.

Market Intelligence

Rigorous market and policy analysis translated into actionable decision-making tools. We synthesize complex energy landscapes into high-impact case studies, white papers, industry reports, and executive training decks that stand up to commercial scrutiny.

Ventures

Hands-on support for enterprises and program leads to unlock scale. We design and implement post-investment support programs, refine business models, optimize unit economics, and build the operational detail behind sustainable growth plans.

Investment

Mobilizing capital, sharpening the investment case, and bridging the gap between global funders and credible, high-integrity pipeline across clean cooking and carbon markets.

About

Ronan Ferguson

I am a clean cooking and energy transition consultant, providing strategic direction and hands-on delivery for governments, investors and enterprises. I have over fifteen years' experience working across energy and climate action, with seven years focused on clean cooking and carbon markets.

Previously, I was a Manager at Accenture Strategy, working on African markets and SDG7, and spent four years at the Clean Cooking Alliance. My work spans energy systems, policy, data and finance, and includes projects with organisations such as the World Bank and IRENA.

Why this work matters

My motivations for working in energy access are rooted in two formative moments: one from my childhood, and one from becoming a father.

A vintage manual typewriter resting on a warm textured surface

The past

The Typewriter

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A clear perspex keyring holding a 3D ultrasound scan photograph of a baby's face

The future

The Keyring

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These experiences shape how I approach clean cooking and energy transition work today, with a focus on practical delivery, long-term thinking, and supporting solutions that can operate at scale for future generations.

What Partners & Clients Say

Reflections from sector leaders, clients, and collaborators on working together.

I worked closely with Ronan at Clean Cooking Alliance where he was instrumental in running of Venture Catalyst Program and leading other market development initiatives. His excellent communication skills ensured smooth collaboration among our team members. His sense of humour and ability to make work enjoyable brought a positive atmosphere to our workplace.
S. Avi
Energy and Infrastructure Finance
US Dept. of Energy

I first came to know Ronan during his Accenture days when we engaged ADP to conduct research and capture lessons learned from a debt facility we raised with Deutsche Bank, and the opportunity to finance clean cooking energy solutions in developing countries generally. During this work, he was thorough, thoughtful, and a pleasure to work with.
P. George
Venture and Growth Capital Investor
Frontier Markets

Ronan was my coach as part of a personal development programme. He was excellent, smart and patient and I learned a lot from his calm approach to life's challenges. He is also very empathic, and knew what my pain points were, working on them softly to change my views and approaches to some personal challenges. The experience will serve me a lifetime.
A. Schuesterl
Director of Communications
ODI Global

Ways to Connect

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2025 Newsletter