Solar crowdfunding

In June 2022, amendments were published to the regulations containing the new criteria in network access contests, in which, among other criteria, the participation of local investors is prioritized, including the possibility of participation both through the acquisition of debt and shares (Equity).

This requirement, which was previously related to good practice criteria, has now become a scalable criterion in the competition of Mudejar of Just Transition. As in the case of the legislation of the Balearic Islands (Law 10/2019) and of Catalonia (Decree-Law 24/2021). Both regulations require providing local investors with 20% of the share capital or financing necessary to implement projects with a power greater than 5 MW. In the case of the Balearic Islands, investment must be offered in 3 phases: a first phase aimed at citizens, companies and administrations of the municipality where the project is located, a second phase incorporating neighboring municipalities and a final phase for investment participants from the rest of the Balearic Islands. In Catalonia, this offer must be made between the inhabitants, companies and administrations of the municipality where the project is located, of the neighboring municipalities and those of the same region, in a single phase.

Crowfunding platforms are proving to be a powerful and effective tool to achieve these crowdfunding objectives. An example of this is the Geoide II photovoltaic plant, in Vallmoll (Alt Camp region, Tarragona), whose environmental impact assessment has been carried out by Environmental Ideas, and whose process of attracting investors is open on the platform specialized in financing renewable energy projects Fundeen.