Ecopower Erkende
Ecopower Erkende is a Belgian citizen energy cooperative (cvba) founded in 1991 that produces and supplies renewable electricity from wind, solar, and hydropower assets collectively owned by nearly 100,000 cooperative shareholders across Flanders and Brussels, while expanding into heat networks and battery storage.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersBerchem, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Ecopower Erkende does
Ecopower Erkende (legal name: Ecopower cvba) is a Belgian citizen energy cooperative founded in 1991 and headquartered in Berchem (Antwerp). It produces and supplies renewable electricity from Belgian wind, solar, and hydropower assets that are collectively owned by its nearly 100,000 coöperanten (cooperative shareholders). Each coöperant can purchase up to 20 shares at €250 per share, receiving an annual 4% dividend, and may also become an electricity customer. The cooperative runs two retail products: Groene Burgerstroom (semi-fixed pricing with a fixed production/operations component and a variable Belpex-linked component) and Dynamische Burgerstroom (hourly EPEX day-ahead dynamic pricing requiring a digital meter). Generation is spread across 26 wind turbines and approximately 200 large-scale solar installations as of October 2024, plus small-scale hydropower at the Molen van Rotselaar, and it is expanding into heat networks (AquaCOM aquathermie) and battery storage (20% of a 100 MW park in Ruien).
The business operates on a cost-price-plus-operational-costs basis with no profit margin on electricity supply, meaning surpluses are reinvested in new renewable projects or distributed as dividends. Beyond consumers, Ecopower serves Flemish municipalities and enterprises via dedicated B2B and government portals, delivering rooftop solar projects (e.g., 2,352 panels at AZ Alma hospital, 1,104 panels on Limburg provincial schools) and wind projects on partner land (e.g., three turbines at Water-link in Ranst). Distribution is direct through ecopower.be and self-service portals; no resellers are used. Revenue streams include electricity supply, cooperative share sales, and green energy certificate (GSC, WKK) revenues. FY2023 turnover was €64.66 million with €2.56 million in profit, while in 2025 the cooperative sector reported 382 GWh of locally produced renewable energy (+24% YoY) and €4.6 million in local dividends paid out (+268% YoY). The company sits within a broader Flemish cooperative ecosystem coordinated through REScoop.Vlaanderen and competes against ENGIE, Luminus, Eneco, and Total, which collectively hold roughly 85% of the Belgian retail electricity market.
Ecopower Erkende firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ecopower Erkende
- Legal name
- Ecopower cvba
- Website
- https://ecopower.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ecopower Erkende is a Belgian citizen energy cooperative (cvba) founded in 1991 that produces and supplies renewable electricity from wind, solar, and hydropower assets collectively owned by nearly 100,000 cooperative shareholders across Flanders and Brussels, while expanding into heat networks and battery storage.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ecopower Erkende industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Citizen-owned renewable electricity supply
- NAICS
- Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs (EUAGADAJ), Hybrid PPAs (Renewables + Storage) & Firm Renewable Products (EUAGADAI), Demand Response & Load Flexibility Services (EUAMAJAF), Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
Keywords
Where Ecopower Erkende is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berchem
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ecopower Erkende business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Electricity Supply to Customers: Ecopower supplies green electricity to customers (over 60,000 customers) through two product lines: Groene Burgerstroom (stable/fixed price) and Dynamische Burgerstroom (dynamic hourly pricing). Revenue is generated through electricity sales at cost price plus operational costs, with the cooperative model meaning no profit margin is added.
- Cooperative Shares (Aandelen): Citizens purchase cooperative shares at 250 euro per share (maximum 20 per person) to become coöperanten and co-owners of energy production installations. This provides investment capital for new wind, solar and heat projects. Dividends of 4% are paid out annually.
- Pellet and Briquet Sales: Ecopower previously produced and sold wood pellets (Ecopellets) with ENPlusA1 certification. Production was stopped in 2023, and the brand was transferred to Corvers Biofuels. Sales continue through Corvers Biofuels.
- GSC and WKK Certificates: Revenue from Green Energy Certificates (GSC) and Combined Heat and Power (WKK) certificates at 0.0197 euro/kWh and 0.0028 euro/kWh respectively.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Monthly | Groene Burgerstroom - Stable/Safe pricing |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamische Burgerstroom - Dynamic hourly pricing |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Cooperative Shares (Aandelen) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | GSC Certificate Cost |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | WKK Certificate Cost |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Feed-in remuneration (Terugleververgoeding) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ecopower Erkende product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ecopower produces and supplies renewable electricity from cooperative-owned Belgian wind, solar, and small-scale hydropower installations, sold to citizens and organizations under two product lines—Groene Burgerstroom (hybrid pricing) and Dynamische Burgerstroom (hourly dynamic pricing). Citizens purchase cooperative shares (250 EUR each, max 20 per person) to become co-owners of the production assets and receive 4% annual dividends, while the cooperative itself develops wind, large-scale solar, heat networks (warmtenetten), heat pumps, and battery storage projects.
Product overview
Ecopower is a Belgian citizen energy cooperative offering a portfolio of renewable energy products and services. The core offerings include Groene Burgerstroom and Dynamische Burgerstroom (green electricity with fixed and dynamic pricing respectively), supported by free EnergieID data app for consumption monitoring. The cooperative develops and operates wind turbine projects, large-scale solar panel installations, heat networks (warmtenetten) using aquathermy technology, heat pumps, and battery storage projects. Previously, the company also produced Ecopellets (ENplus A1 certified wood pellets), though pellet production was transferred to Corvers Biofuels. Citizens can invest as co-operators (coöperanten) in these projects and become co-owners of renewable energy installations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Groene Burgerstroom: Standard green electricity product with a semi-fixed price that protects against market fluctuations
- Dynamische Burgerstroom
- Ecopower-pellets (Ecopellets)
Products and services
- Groene Burgerstroom (Green Citizen Electricity) Standard green electricity supply sourced from Belgian wind, solar and hydropower installations owned by Ecopower's cooperative members. Sold on a hybrid pricing model (semi-fixed portion covering production and operational costs, variable portion linked to Belpex day-ahead) with no subscription or fixed costs; suitable for households and small businesses seeking stable protection from market volatility.
- Dynamische Burgerstroom (Dynamic Citizen Electricity) Green electricity with hourly-varying prices based on EPEX day-ahead market prices, requiring a digital meter and consumption that can be automatically shifted to low-price periods. Geared toward households and businesses with heat pumps, EV chargers, or battery systems that can steer their consumption dynamically.
- Cooperative Shares (Aandelen) Cooperative share offering at 250 EUR per share (maximum 20 shares per person) that turns citizens into coöperanten and co-owners of Ecopower's renewable energy production installations, with a 4% annual dividend (10 EUR gross, 7 EUR net per share) and voting rights in the cooperative.
- Wind Energy Projects Cooperative wind turbine projects (onshore and offshore) where citizens can invest as coöperanten and become co-owners of the installations. Develops, finances, and operates wind projects including the Eeklo turbines, three turbines at the water-link site in Ranst, and the planned Ons Genker Wind project with Bronsgroen and Stad Genk.
- Solar Panel Projects (Zonnepanelen) Large-scale cooperative solar panel installations on rooftops of hospitals, care homes, schools, public buildings, and industrial sites. Citizens co-finance installations and become co-owners; sites include the AZ Alma hospital (Eeklo), Ten Weldebrouc, Woonzorgcentrum Wijtshage, Zorgvlied and provincial schools in Limburg.
- Warmtenetten (Heat Networks) District heating networks that distribute renewable heat to connected residential and other buildings. The flagship AquaCOM network at the Molen van Rotselaar uses aquathermy (heat extraction from surface water via heat exchangers) combined with heat pumps powered by local green hydropower.
- Warmtepompen (Heat Pumps) Heat pump solutions marketed as part of Ecopower's green heating portfolio, including integration with the cooperative warmtenetten for individual and small-scale residential heating.
- Battery Storage Projects (Batterijprojecten) Cooperative battery storage projects including a small-scale installation at Sanapolis (Sijsele) and a 20% stake in a planned 100 MW battery park at Ruien (operational target 2027), providing grid-scale storage that complements Ecopower's renewable generation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 382 GWh locally produced renewable energy by cooperative members in 2025 (+24% growth)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Ecopower Erkende
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ecopower Erkende technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Ecopower Erkende partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BronsgroencoreLimburg-based energy cooperative partnership for wind projects. Joint development of 'Ons Genker Wind' project (two wind turbines in Genk-Zuid industrial area) through SPV structure. Also collaborated on Bilzen wind project (first Limburg citizen wind turbine). Bronsgroen enables citizens in Limburg to participate in renewable energy investments.
- Stad Genk (City of Genk)coreCity of Genk partnered with Ecopower and Bronsgroen for cooperative wind project 'Ons Genker Wind'. City provides location (industrial terrain Genk-Zuid), permits, and acts as co-owner through the SPV. Enables maximum local added value and citizen participation in energy transition.
- REScoop.VlaanderencoreFederation of energy cooperatives in Flanders. Ecopower participates in annual Monitor Burgerenergie publication and sector advocacy. Jan De Pauw serves as board member of REScoop.Vlaanderen while also working at Ecopower.
- VolterracoreEast Flanders energy cooperative. Joint ownership of wind turbines at Huysmanhoeve in Eeklo. Partnership demonstrates how cooperatives and local governments can work together on renewable energy projects.
- EnergentminorEast Flanders energy cooperative. Collaboration on renovation advisory services for citizens. Contributed expertise to 'Milde Meetjes Renoveert' project supporting energy-efficient renovations for families needing support.
- EXTRAQTcoreAquathermy specialist for AquaCOM European project. EXTRAQT provides technical development of aquathermic installations, including Digital Twin simulations and project development. Responsible for heat extraction from surface water (Dijle river) in Rotselaar project.
- HeatcominorTechnical installation company responsible for installing heat pumps and connecting the aquathermic system at the Molen van Rotselaar. Received training from Terrendis for heat network installation.
- Corvers BiofuelsminorBelgian family company took over Ecopellets brand and sales when Ecopower stopped pellet production in 2023. Customers can continue purchasing ENplus A1 certified pellets through Corvers Biofuels.
- VEB (Vlaams Energiebedrijf)coreFlemish Energy Company framework contract enabling cooperatives to place solar panels on public buildings. Ecopower uses VEB framework for projects with municipalities including Limburg provincial schools and CC Den Amer in Diest.
- Water-linkcoreDrinking water company whose site in Ranst hosts three cooperative wind turbines. Project provides green electricity for drinking water production. Turbines arrived via Albertkanaal (ship delivery) to water-link quay.
- EnergyVilleminorResearch institution that developed 'Geen Kool' (No Coal) transition scenario with Stad Genk. Project 'Ons Genker Wind' is an example of implementing this transition scenario for local renewable energy.
- Provincie LimburgminorLimburg province partnered with Ecopower for 1104 solar panels on educational institutions in Diepenbeek, Hasselt and Voeren. Project financed through VEB framework contract.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ecopower Erkende competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Energent: East Flanders energy cooperative collaborating with Ecopower on the 'Milde Meetjes Renoveert' renovation advisory project. Comparable Belgian citizen energy cooperative providing similar member-owned renewable energy and energy efficiency services to Flemish households.
- Bronsgroen: Limburg-based Belgian citizen energy cooperative and Ecopower's co-development partner on the Ons Genker Wind and Bilzen wind projects. Operates the same community-owned renewable energy cooperative model with member-share financing, directly comparable in product, customer type, and business model.
- Bürgerwerke: German federation of citizen energy cooperatives supplying green electricity to members across Germany. Directly comparable to Ecopower in cooperative governance, citizen-share financing, and renewable supply model, at larger geographic scale.
- Som Energia: Catalan/Spanish citizen energy cooperative, one of Europe's largest, operating a member-owned renewable generation and supply model directly comparable to Ecopower in structure, member financing, and green electricity supply to households.
- Volterra: East Flanders energy cooperative jointly owning wind turbines at Huysmanhoeve in Eeklo with Ecopower. Closely comparable Belgian citizen energy cooperative with similar co-development model, geographic overlap, and member-share financing structure.
- Enercoop: France's leading citizen energy cooperative, supplying green electricity to members sourced from member-owned renewable production. Closest international analogue to Ecopower's cooperative model, customer base, and product offering (green supply + member share financing).
- Coopernico: Portuguese citizen energy cooperative offering member-owned renewable electricity supply. Comparable to Ecopower in cooperative structure, citizen-share capital model, and green electricity product offering, though operating in the Iberian market.
Broad incumbents
- Luminus: Belgian energy supplier (EDF subsidiary) and one of the four majors holding ~85% of the Belgian retail market. Competes with Ecopower in green electricity supply and renewable generation, but operates across multiple customer segments with a full incumbent portfolio.
- Eneco Belgium: Major Dutch-Belgian energy supplier active in green electricity and renewable generation in Belgium. Direct competitor in retail green supply but as part of a broader multi-country utility portfolio, not a citizen cooperative.
- ENGIE Electrabel: Belgium's largest energy incumbent and dominant retail electricity supplier (part of ENGIE group, ~85% market share referenced by Ecopower). Overlaps Ecopower in renewable generation and electricity supply but as a broad multi-technology, multi-country incumbent rather than a citizen cooperative.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ecopower Erkende social profiles
Digital presenceEcopower Erkende compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ecopower Erkende financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ecopower Erkende leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Ecopower Erkende funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ecopower Erkende M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ecopower Erkende
What does Ecopower Erkende do?
Ecopower produces and supplies renewable electricity from cooperative-owned Belgian wind, solar, and small-scale hydropower installations, sold to citizens and organizations under two product lines—Groene Burgerstroom (hybrid pricing) and Dynamische Burgerstroom (hourly dynamic pricing). Citizens purchase cooperative shares (250 EUR each, max 20 per person) to become co-owners of the production assets and receive 4% annual dividends, while the cooperative itself develops wind, large-scale solar, heat networks (warmtenetten), heat pumps, and battery storage projects.
Is Ecopower Erkende a public or private company?
Ecopower Erkende is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Ecopower Erkende founded?
Ecopower Erkende was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ecopower Erkende based?
Ecopower Erkende is headquartered in Berchem, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Ecopower Erkende make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Electricity Supply to Customers are the primary driver. The others are cooperative Shares (Aandelen), pellet and Briquet Sales and GSC and WKK Certificates.
Who are Ecopower Erkende's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Energent, Bronsgroen, Bürgerwerke, Som Energia, Volterra, Enercoop and Coopernico. Broad incumbents are Luminus, Eneco Belgium and ENGIE Electrabel.
Does Ecopower Erkende have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ecopower Erkende.
What industry is Ecopower Erkende in?
Ecopower Erkende's product category is Citizen-owned renewable electricity supply. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management, with a secondary code of EUAGADAJ, Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs. Its NAICS code is 221115 and its SIC code is 4991.