From the smallest acorn... how crowdfunding can help create clean energy communities

Ever fancied yourself as a Dragon on Dragons’ Den?

Or maybe you’ve dabbled in Kickstarter to back a passion project?

Now imagine using that same spirit of investment to fund something truly impactful — like a solar farm powering hundreds of homes. That’s the principle behind crowdfunding, and it’s changing the way communities shape their energy future.

Crowdfunding isn’t just for passion projects. It’s becoming a powerful tool to spark the energy transition, inspiring communities to create and fund projects that cut carbon and deliver rewards — not just environmentally, but financially too.

By focusing on smaller-scale, locally driven projects, this approach keeps the benefits close to home. It’s about more than just energy — it’s about empowering communities to shape their own sustainable future.

Our crowdfunding platform

At E.ON, our crowdfunding platform brings renewable energy to life by enabling residents to invest in local projects. It works by:

• A project is launched: Whether it’s a solar farm, wind park, or energy efficiency initiative, the project is shared on the platform.
• Residents invest: Contributions from the local community fund the project, with options ranging from modest investments to larger commitments.
• The project delivers: Once complete, the initiative generates renewable energy for the area, and investors see returns from their stake.

Powering communities (and pubs)

Over in Freyung, a small town in Bavaria, residents pooled their resources to crowdfund a solar farm. With contributions starting at €500, they created a renewable energy site that now generates enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of more than 300 homes.

For the people of Freyung, this wasn’t just an energy project, it was a collaborative achievement. By investing directly, locals played an active role in reducing emissions and contributing to their community’s future. Projects like this show how crowdfunding doesn’t just deliver clean energy, it fosters a real shared sense of purpose.

Giving UK consumers a stake with Ripple Energy

Crowdfunding isn’t just about local projects — it’s also about creating opportunities for individuals to play an active role in the renewable energy revolution. That’s where Ripple Energy comes in.

Through Ripple’s cooperative model, people across the UK can own a share in large-scale wind or solar farms and benefit directly from the energy they produce. E.ON Next is proud to be a Ripple partner supplier, enabling members to access renewable power at below-market rates while helping the UK accelerate towards net zero.

This approach opens the door for renters, small businesses, and anyone unable to install their own green systems to enjoy the financial and environmental benefits of green energy. It’s another way we’re ensuring the energy transition works for everyone.

Crowdfunding is redefining how we approach energy infrastructure, taking renewable energy projects from abstract ideas to tangible realities, driven by local investment and support. And when communities are directly involved, they’re more likely to embrace and champion the transition to cleaner energy sources.