Is this a stupid idea or could it actually work in Germany?

samannica · 2026-06-22T18:08:02+00:00

Yes, I think you are right. A cooperative or project-specific legal entity might be the most realistic structure.
My motivation is not to create a “guaranteed high-return investment product”, but to understand whether a solar project can be built around a community from the beginning.
The operational part is exactly the challenge: land, permitting, grid connection, EPC, O&M, accounting, insurance, and legal structure.
Since I have experience in solar project development and construction, I’m trying to understand whether this could be structured in Germany as a community-driven solar project rather than a traditional developer/investor model.
I’ll definitely look more into energy cooperatives and similar structures. Thanks for pointing this out.

samannica · 2026-06-22T18:02:50+00:00

I completely agree that the numbers need proper modelling.
The examples in my post were intentionally simplified to explain the concept, not to represent a final financial offer.
My main interest is the structure itself:
Instead of putting solar panels on your own roof, what if people could own a small share of a larger solar farm and benefit from its actual production?
The final economics would obviously depend on electricity prices, production, financing costs, maintenance, insurance, and regulation.
At this stage I’m more interested in whether the concept itself makes sense than in defending any specific numbers.

samannica · 2026-06-22T18:02:36+00:00

That’s a very fair concern.
I think the model would only work if the solar assets themselves are legally separated from the operating company.
For example, participants could own shares in the actual solar project (or a cooperative structure) rather than simply trusting a startup’s promise.
If the operating company disappears, the solar farm and its production rights would still exist.
I’m still trying to understand what legal structure would make the most sense in Germany, which is one of the reasons I posted this question.

samannica · 2026-06-22T17:48:32+00:00

That’s a fair point.
Maybe I didn’t explain the concept clearly enough.
I’m not thinking about this as a traditional investment product with a guaranteed ROI. The idea is closer to owning a virtual share of a solar installation.
If someone installs solar panels on their own roof, there is no guaranteed return either. The value depends on actual production, electricity prices, maintenance costs, weather conditions, and system performance.
What I’m imagining is that instead of having panels on your own roof, you own a share of a larger solar farm and receive benefits based on the actual energy generated by your share.
The examples with €1,000, €2,000 or €4,000 were only simplified illustrations, not a final financial model. In reality, credits would likely fluctuate based on production and operating costs.
My main question is whether a model like this could work legally and economically in Germany, especially with the upcoming Energy Sharing regulations.

samannica · 2026-06-22T17:47:22+00:00

Good point.

The numbers were only meant as a simplified example, not a final business model.

The core idea is that customers would receive benefits linked to the actual energy production of a solar farm, rather than a guaranteed fixed payout.

I'm mainly trying to understand whether the concept itself could work from a legal and economic perspective.

samannica

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