Vattenfall resorts to crowdfunding for its Dutch PV projects

Dutch power provider, Nuon, a unit of Sweden’s utility Vattenfall, has announced it will offer bonds to its customers, as well as to other energy customers in the Netherlands, in order to raise additional funds for its PV project pipeline to be developed in the country.

The initial bond offering is intended to raise money for the construction of a solar park in Velsen-Noord, in the province of Noord-Holland, while at a later stage it will also offer bonds for two more solar facilities, which will be located in Eemshaven and Amsterdam, respectively.

Nuon had previously implemented a crowdfunding project for clean energy project among its employees, the company said in its statement. “We realized that an increasing number of our customers wants to make an active contribution to sustainability. Nuon Samen in Zon is ideal for consumers and small business customers who have no possibility to buy or rent solar panels themselves, but still want to take advantage of the sun,” said Nuon COO, Martijn Hagens.

In late December, Nuon revealed that it had a PV project pipeline under development of around 200 MW. The company is also exploring other potential solar markets, such as Germany, the U.K., Denmark, Sweden and adjacent countries.

Meanwhile, last February, the Dutch power provider announced a plan to combine solar projects with wind power facilities in the Netherlands.

As for its parent company, Vattenfall, it has recently agreed to buy solar power from three solar PV farms in the Netherland’s Uden, totaling 38 MW.

The solar plans of the Swedish energy giant were recently discussed with pv magazine by Claus Wattendrup, head of Vattenfall’s Solar and Batteries Business Unit.