Would you invest in Fractionalised Solar?

Would you invest in Fractionalised Solar?

Would You Invest in Fractionalised Solar?

When I first started exploring this Natural Capital space, I thought the term was limited to forests, rivers, biodiversity, and the physical environment.?

While you can go enjoy them they’re harder to access and turn into an asset. But natural capital is a much broader concept—it encompasses all the resources and systems that sustain life. Solar, hydro, wind, and geothermal energy are all part of this vast, interconnected web of assets that make life on Earth possible and for a person looking to include natural capital in their portfolio, it’s something that they should be able to make a bet on fast. But they can’t.

That realization got me thinking: why isn’t it easier for individuals to invest directly in renewables? As things stand, nearly 99% of the money flowing into solar and other renewable energy projects comes from big corporates, banks, and institutional investors.?

For most of us, the only way to invest is indirectly—through funds or companies that might have some exposure to renewables, but betting on the future success of these companies feels disconnected from the tangible impact of the projects themselves.

What if there were a way to make renewable energy investment accessible, tangible, and rewarding for everyone? Imagine a world where you could own a fraction of a solar farm.?

This is the case for Fractionalised Solar

Instead of buying shares in a company that happens to build solar panels or develop renewables, what if you could be directly connected to a specific project. Your investment would fund real solar installations, and you’d earn a return based on the energy they generate. It’s a simple, powerful idea—turning solar power into a co-owned asset that benefits investors and the planet alike.

The concept of fractionalised solar investment has been on my mind for over a year now. The premise is simple: as an investor, you’d contribute to building solar projects, and in return, you’d receive a yield—a percentage of the revenue generated by the energy sold to the grid. If a solar farm generates profits from the electricity it produces, you’d get a share of those profits. Unlike green funds that feel abstract, this approach creates a direct link between your money and the impact it has on renewable energy.

But what kind of return would make it worthwhile? 3% a year? 4%? Maybe even 6%? Compared to letting your money sit in a bank savings accounts that might be using your money to fund projects you don’t align with, investing in fractionalised solar is a compelling alternative.

The Great British Energy Opportunity

In the UK, the concept feels particularly relevant right now. Great British Energy has ambitious goals for renewable energy, but there’s a glaring gap in funding. What if citizens could step up to fill that gap—not just through taxes or government schemes, but by investing directly in the energy infrastructure that powers the country? Fractionalised solar could be the foundation of a new kind of co-ownership, where individuals and businesses pool resources to fund renewable energy, share in its profits, and feel directly connected to its success.

This idea isn’t just about money; it’s about building a new relationship between people and the energy they consume. By investing in projects you can see and understand, renewable energy becomes something tangible, personal, and local—not just a distant concept.

So, here’s the question: What kind of return would make fractional solar attractive to you? And what else would you need to feel confident in such an investment??

If this post gets 100 likes I’ll turn it into a real business.

Perhaps this is the start of a new era of collaborative investing—where we don’t just save for ourselves, but invest in the planet we all share.

Matt Roebuck

Product Lead | Climate Solutions | Terra.do Fellow

3 个月

The more options the better, especially when "collective action" (credit: Ecologi ??) can be a more efficient and effective approach - like larger scale solar vs residential. Ripple are doing solar now too. Investing in community or coop energy projects is another current option. But definitely still too few options out there.

Go for it Ian! I've seen stuff like Ripple Energy - good option when there's no way of installing solar on your property

Peter Czapp

Business benchmarking expert. Co-Founder at The Wow Company, The Agency Collective, The Consultancy Growth Network. On the board at Ecologi. Having a lot of fun.

3 个月

I'd love to see you turn this into a business ??

Jon Mason

Founder at Jollywise | Creative Entrepreneur | Digital Content Specialist | Exec Producer and Creator of Stan & Gran | 25 years of delivering playful digital experiences for Brands, Fans, Families and Children | BIMA100

3 个月

Smart Idea, I invested in solar at home 15 years ago, our initial investment is now paid down and the money we earn from selling back to the grid cover our other energy expenses. We have a little left over which we squirrel away, Imagine what that could generate at scale. ????

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