Press Release
E.ON Invests in greenXmoney and Begins Offering “Watt Certificates”
- Platform Brings Green Energy Producers and Investors Together
- Private investors can invest online in solar and wind power plants
Take advantage of the opportunities presented by the energy transition, even if you don’t have your own roof space for a solar power system: E.ON is now offering this opportunity to all citizens. To this end, the energy company has entered into a partnership with greenXmoney. The German startup operates a trading platform that connects renewable energy producers with private investors. Starting immediately, investors can invest in German solar and wind power plants online at www.eon.de/greenxmoney—flexibly, securely, and independently of banks.
The principle is simple: Owners of solar or wind power plants register their units on the greenXmoney platform. Prospective investors can compare the solar and wind power plants on offer—for example, in terms of location, size, capacity, or output—and choose a specific green energy producer. With a one-time payment of at least 500 euros, the investor acquires a share of the future electricity yields from the respective solar or wind power plant. The customer is not required to hold the investment until the end of the term but can resell it at any time.
“Our partnership with greenXmoney is another important building block in our digital solutions business. With our battery and storage solutions, the E.ON SolarCloud, and Google Sunroof, we offer innovative products that give our customers independence. With greenXmoney, even customers who do not own a home or have a suitable roof area to generate their own electricity can now benefit from renewable energy,” says E.ON Executive Board member Karsten Wildberger.
“It’s never been easier for anyone to see exactly how their investment pays for itself and how much clean energy ‘their’ system generates,” explain Torsten Blumenthal and Murat Sahin, managing directors of greenXmoney. “That’s good not only for the environment, but also for your wallet.”
The concept follows the established procedure of a receivables purchase agreement, referred to as “Wattpapier” at greenXmoney. Plant owners sell the guaranteed revenue expected under the Renewable Energy Act (EEG), while buyers acquire this revenue and thereby receive a predictable return on investment. Investors receive semi-annual payments based on the amount they have invested.
The business model offers advantages for both sides: The “Wattpapier” buyer’s investment is matched by a real return in the form of electricity revenue, without the investor having a stake in the plant itself. The plant operator receives the necessary funds but remains the owner of the plant at all times and can retain any potential excess electricity generation for themselves. This sets greenXmoney apart from other crowdfunding models, in which investors participate directly in a facility or through a subordinated loan and thus assume greater risk.
E.ON holds a 25.1 percent stake in greenXmoney.
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements based on the current assumptions and forecasts of the E.ON Group’s management and other information currently available. Various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, as well as other factors, may cause the company’s actual results, financial position, development, or performance to differ materially from the estimates provided herein. E.ON SE does not intend to, and assumes no obligation to, update such forward-looking statements or adapt them to future events or developments.
