"The CrowdFundRES project has delivered the following results in line with its objectives and milestones:
A review and update of crowdfunding regulation and RES market developments was conducted providing a detailed overview of the fast-changing regulatory conditions in all 28 EU Member States.
Three online surveys were conducted at the European level, one regarding public perceptions about crowdfunding in the renewables sector, with the others examining the views of crowdfunding platforms and RES project developers.
10 Case studies from Europe’s leading RES crowdfunding platforms were reported providing a detailed view of how platforms operate as well as an overview of individual RES projects that have raised funds on the respective platforms.
2 European workshops were organised, one with crowdfunding platforms and one with renewable energy project developers around Europe, where input to guidelines for crowdfunding platforms and project developers was collected and insights for policy recommendations were discussed.
Likewise, 9 national workshops with platforms and RES project developers were organised covering the 6 target countries. (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK)
1 European Policy Workshop and around 15 policy bilateral meetings were held. The participants included project partners, policy makers, representatives of RES associations as well as representatives of crowdfunding platforms involved with RES projects. These activities aimed at identifying opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of the developed policy recommendations.
Policy recommendations were formulated to help improve the market and regulatory framework for crowdfunding and renewables in Europe
A series of guidelines for crowdfunding platforms and project developers were developed and applied aimed at supporting easier, more effective and wider accepted practices in crowdfunding renewable energy projects. Additionally, an investors guideline was drafted to enable investors to make well-informed decisions and facilitate better understanding before engaging in crowdfunding.
Practical experience gained from the application of the guidelines was demonstrated through 8 crowdfunded projects listed on the partner crowdfunding platforms during the last 18 months of the project.
Form the above mentioned, it is to be noted the unprecedented collaboration between Lumo and Oneplanetcrowd, crowdfunding platforms based respectively in France and in the Netherlands, that joined forces to overcome the issues related to cross-border crowdfunding.
Measures were taken during the CrowdFundRES project to support new crowdfunding platforms and existing crowdfunding platforms that have expanded their activities to include renewable energy.
More than 700.000 including crowdfunding experts, different types of renewable energy developers and professionals, NGOs, environmental organisations, policy makers and the wider public have been reached through the projects dissemination activities. 1.200.000 accounts potentially reached through the #CrowdFundRES twitter discussion group.
This work has improved understanding of how crowdfunding is used for financing renewable energy projects and has helped analyse the challenges faced by the application of this innovative mechanism for financing such projects as well as the drivers of its growth in Europe.
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