OEKOGENO
OEKOGENO eG is a German ecological cooperative (Freiburg, est. 1988) that mobilizes 16,000+ members and project capital for inclusive housing cooperatives, citizen-owned solar and wind energy, Agri-PV, and sustainable forestry, serving ethical investors, tenants, municipalities, and foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersFreiburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What OEKOGENO does
OEKOGENO eG is a German registered cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft) headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, founded in 1988 with origins in the former Ökobank. The cooperative mobilizes capital and members for ecological and social projects across four verticals: inclusive multi-generational housing, citizen-owned photovoltaic and wind energy generation, sustainable forestry and agriculture, and (via the OEKOGENO-Stiftung) moor rewetting and paludiculture. Its core technology footprint includes rooftop solar plants, an ENERCON E-115 3.0 MW wind turbine at Langenhard/Lahr (~6.48 million kWh/year yield), a 3.7 MWp bifacial vertical Agri-PV installation at Ottweiler developed with Next2Sun that retains 85-90% agricultural land use, and KfW 40 Plus energy-efficient housing stock.
The business model is member-funded rather than investor-funded. Individuals join by purchasing Genossenschaftsanteile at 33.71 EUR per share, granting one-member-one-vote democratic participation. Members and external retail investors then participate in project-specific financing instruments — subordinated loans (Nachrangdarlehen / Energiedarlehen, minimum 2,000 EUR), closed-end funds (Solarfonds, Windfonds 1), and housing interest products (Wohnzins Zukunft V, minimum 1,000 EUR). Recurring revenue comes from rental income in housing cooperatives (e.g., 31 fully occupied units at Ehrenkirchen's Zwischendörfer quarter; 49 units in the MITeinanderhaus pipeline) and energy sales to the grid from completed wind and solar assets. Distribution is community-led: direct membership via the website, gated member portal for project documentation, Grüne Sachwerte as a crowdinvestment partner for non-members, and purpose-built subsidiary cooperatives per housing project.
The customer base spans capital investors (Kapitalanleger*innen), tenants and housing cooperative members, the broader membership of Genoss*innen, German municipalities (Kommunen), and foundations (Stiftungen) seeking ethical deployment of endowment capital. Notable institutional counterparties include KfW, Aktion Mensch, Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, Software AG Stiftung, AWO, Caritas, and BruderhausDiakonie. The cooperative explicitly pursues Sinnmaximierung (meaning maximization) rather than profit maximization, reports over 16,000 members nationwide, and has mobilized approximately 30 million EUR in sustainable project capital in 2019 alone.
OEKOGENO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OEKOGENO
- Legal name
- OEKOGENO eG
- Website
- https://oekogeno.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- OEKOGENO eG is a German ecological cooperative (Freiburg, est. 1988) that mobilizes 16,000+ members and project capital for inclusive housing cooperatives, citizen-owned solar and wind energy, Agri-PV, and sustainable forestry, serving ethical investors, tenants, municipalities, and foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OEKOGENO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Cooperative Services
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Project Finance & Capital Structuring (Debt/Tax Equity/Project Bonds) (EUAMAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Permitting, Environmental & Stakeholder Engagement (EIA/ESIA, Community Relations) (EUAMAAAB)
Keywords
Where OEKOGENO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
OEKOGENO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Genossenschaftsanteile (Cooperative Shares): Members purchase cooperative shares (33.71€ per share) to become members. These shares constitute the equity base of the cooperative. Additional shares can be purchased for greater participation.
- Project Financing (Nachrangdarlehen & Crowdinvestment): Members and investors provide debt financing for specific renewable energy projects (Solarfonds, Windfonds) and housing projects via subordinated loans (Nachrangdarlehen) or direct crowdinvestment, receiving interest payments in return.
- Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft (Housing Cooperative): Long-term rental housing managed through project-specific subsidiary cooperatives. Revenue comes from member rents in exchange for affordable, inclusive, and community-oriented housing.
- Energy Project Returns: Completed renewable energy projects (solar, wind) generate revenue from energy sales to the grid, which is distributed to investors/participating members.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Genossenschaftsanteil (Cooperative Share) - 33.71€ |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Solarfonds 1 - Min. 5,000€ |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Wohnzins Zukunft V - Min. 1,000€ |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Windfonds 1 - 20 Jahre |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Energiedarlehen (Energy Loan) - Min. 2,000€ |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | MITeinanderhaus Freiburg eG - Min. 100€ |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
OEKOGENO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OEKOGENO eG is a German ecological cooperative that enables citizens to co-invest in and co-govern sustainable projects through purchased cooperative shares (Genossenschaftsanteile starting at 33.71 EUR). Its core deliverables are: inclusive multi-generational housing operated through subsidiary housing cooperatives, citizen-owned solar and wind energy projects (including the 3.7 MWp Agri-PV project in Ottweiler with Next2Sun and the Windfonds 1 turbine at Lahr), and sustainable forestry / moor-rewetting initiatives run via the OEKOGENO-Stiftung. Members receive democratic voting rights (one member, one vote) and access to project-specific investment vehicles such as Nachrangdarlehen (subordinated loans from 2,000 EUR), Solarfonds, Windfonds and Wohnzins Zukunft.
Product overview
OEKOGENO is an ecological cooperative (Ökologische Genossenschaft) that functions as a multi-project platform offering sustainable investment and membership opportunities. The core offering is membership in the OEKOGENO eG cooperative through the purchase of shares (33.71 EUR), which provides democratic participation rights and access to various project investment opportunities. The cooperative operates across four main project areas: (1) inclusive housing projects (Wohnprojekte) through subsidiary cooperatives like MITeinanderhaus Freiburg eG, OEKOGENO SWH eG, WIN eG, GIW eG, and GLH eG; (2) solar energy projects including photovoltaic installations and the innovative Agri-PV project in Ottweiler; (3) wind power projects such as Windpark Taubenkopf and the completed Windfonds 1 in Lahr; and (4) sustainable forestry and agriculture including moor rewetting via the OEKOGENO-Stiftung. Members can invest in various products including subordinated loans (Nachrangdarlehen/Energiedarlehen), closed-end funds (Solarfonds, Windfonds), and housing interest products (Wohnzins Zukunft). The organization has over 16,000 members and has invested millions in sustainable projects across Germany.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Genossenschaftsanteile (Cooperative Shares / Membership)
- Energiedarlehen (Nachrangdarlehen / Subordinated Energy Loans)
- Solarfonds 1
- Windfonds 1 (Lahr-10KG)
- Wohnzins Zukunft V
- Agri-PV-Projekt Ottweiler
- Wohnprojekte (Inclusive Multi-Generational Housing) Multi-generational, barrier-free, inclusive housing projects (Wohnprojekte) operated through dedicated subsidiary housing cooperatives. Features community spaces, integration of people with disabilities in cooperation with social welfare partners (BruderhausDiakonie, AWO, Caritas), and KfW40 Plus energy efficiency.
- Photovoltaik / Solarprojekte Photovoltaic installations enabling citizens to participate in solar energy generation, including rooftop PV systems and the Agri-PV concept that combines agriculture with solar power.
- Windkraft (Wind Energy Projects) Wind power projects including Windfonds 1 (Lahr-Langenhard, 3.0 MW ENERCON turbine) and the announced Windpark Taubenkopf near Freiburg (planned to supply ~5,500 households). Citizens co-invest in wind energy development and operation.
- Forst- & Landwirtschaft (Sustainable Forestry & Agriculture) Sustainable forestry, paludiculture and moor-rewetting initiatives operated through the OEKOGENO-Stiftung. Focus on carbon sequestration, preservation of cultural landscapes, and securing liveable rural areas.
- MITeinanderhaus Freiburg eG Dedicated housing cooperative for the Kleineschholz quarter project in Freiburg-Stühlinger; 49 inclusive, intergenerational, barrier-free housing units scheduled for occupancy end of 2028. Minimum membership share 100 EUR plus OEKOGENO eG membership (33.71 EUR).
- Wohnquartier Zwischendörfer Ehrenkirchen Housing quarter in Ehrenkirchen near Freiburg operated via OEKOGENO Hausgenossenschaft eG; 31 cooperative housing units (1-5 rooms) plus 24 condominiums, all units fully occupied. Built to KfW40 Plus standard with community spaces and inclusive living arrangements including shared apartments (WG) for people with disabilities.
- OEKOGENO SWH eG (Niddatal-Ilbenstadt Housing Project) Subsidiary cooperative for the inclusive multi-generational housing project in Niddatal-Ilbenstadt, including renovation of the historic Pächterhaus at Kloster Ilbenstadt. Supported by Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz (110,000 EUR) and awarded the Hessischer Staatspreis für Universelles Design.
- OEKOGENO WIN eG (Nürtingen Housing Project) Subsidiary cooperative for the inclusive housing project in Nürtingen-Enzenhardt featuring cluster apartments for people with disabilities. Houses 3 and 4 acquired by the Software AG Stiftung.
- OEKOGENO GIW eG (Furtwangen Housing Project) Subsidiary cooperative for the Furtwangen housing project with shared apartments (WG) for people with disabilities in cooperation with BruderhausDiakonie. Awarded the Contracting-Preis Baden-Württemberg 2019 and recognised by the Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg.
- OEKOGENO GLH eG (Waldshut-Tiengen Housing Project) Subsidiary cooperative for the Wohnprojekt Am Kaltenbach in Waldshut-Tiengen, creating inclusive shared apartments for people with disabilities and mental health challenges in cooperation with AWO, Caritas Waldshut-Tiengen and the local Landratsamt.
- OEKOGENO VieLe eG (Mühltal Housing Project) Subsidiary cooperative for the inclusive housing project in Mühltal-Dornberg, established on a property acquired by OEKOGENO in December 2022.
- OEKOGENO-Stiftung (Climate Protection via Moor Rewetting) Foundation focused on climate protection through moor rewetting; acquired 43 hectares in Landgrabental (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) for rewetting projects and paludiculture, serving as a structural lever for larger rewetting initiatives.
- Anteile verschenken (Gift Cooperative Shares) Service that lets existing members gift one or more OEKOGENO cooperative shares (33.71 EUR per share) to another person, making the recipient a full member with voting rights and access to investment opportunities.
- Windpark Taubenkopf Freiburg Citizen-financed wind energy project near Freiburg in cooperation with the Ökostromgruppe Freiburg; planned to supply renewable electricity for approximately 5,500 households.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~6.48 million kWh/year electricity generation from Windfonds 1 (Lahr Langenhard)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use OEKOGENO
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
OEKOGENO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
OEKOGENO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ökostromgruppe FreiburgcoreThe Ökostromgruppe (Eco Power Group) from Freiburg collaborates with OEKOGENO on wind energy projects, notably the Windpark Taubenkopf near Freiburg. Both organizations are regional citizen energy cooperatives working together to advance decentralized, citizen-owned renewable energy.
- Aktion MenschcoreAktion Mensch, a major German social welfare organization, co-develops the FÜReinanderhaus housing project alongside OEKOGENO's MITeinanderhaus in Freiburg-Kleineschholz. Together they create a joint inclusive community housing campus combining both organizations' expertise in social inclusion and sustainable housing.
- Jürgen Trittin (via inauguration)minorJürgen Trittin (former German Minister for Environment) inaugurated the Windrad Langenhard wind turbine, lending political legitimacy and public attention to the citizen energy project. (Note: individual not company, included for completeness of ecosystem relationships).
- BruderhausDiakoniecoreBruderhausDiakonie, a social welfare organization, cooperates with OEKOGENO GIW eG on the inclusive housing project in Furtwangen, providing WG (shared apartment) places for people with disabilities. This partnership combines OEKOGENO's housing development expertise with the organization's social care mission.
- Grüne SachwerteminorGrüne Sachwerte serves as the crowdinvestment distribution partner for OEKOGENO's Agri-PV project in Ottweiler. The platform enables retail investors to participate in the project beyond OEKOGENO's existing member base.
- Next2SuncoreOEKOGENO partnered with Next2Sun, the German Agri-PV pioneer, to develop the 3.7 MWp Agri-PV project in Ottweiler (Saarland). Next2Sun provides the bifacial vertical solar module technology that enables simultaneous agricultural use of the land, representing a core technology partnership for this innovative project.
- AWO (Arbeiterwohlfahrt) & Caritas Waldshut-TiengencoreAWO and Caritas Waldshut-Tiengen partnered with OEKOGENO GLH eG on the Wohnprojekt Am Kaltenbach in Waldshut-Tiengen, creating inclusive shared apartments for people with disabilities and mental health challenges. The project is jointly developed with the local district office (Landratsamt).
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OEKOGENO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Naturstrom AG: A larger established German renewable energy company operating wind, solar and hydroelectric plants nationwide. Comparable as a renewable energy operator and citizen-investment destination, though structured as a corporation with broader geographic reach and less cooperative member participation than OEKOGENO.
- berlinovo: A major Berlin-based housing company providing affordable rental housing and student accommodation. Comparable to OEKOGENO's housing cooperative mission of providing affordable, long-term, community-oriented housing, though at much larger scale and with state-affiliated ownership rather than citizen cooperative governance.
Direct peers
- Bürgerwerke eG: A German cooperative of energy cooperatives that pools renewable electricity from over 100 local energy co-ops and supplies it to consumers. Directly comparable to OEKOGENO's cooperative energy model and member-driven approach, operating one layer up as an aggregator of cooperative power.
- Elektrizitätswerke Schönau (EWS): A pioneering German citizen energy cooperative headquartered in Schönau, also founded by local citizens pursuing decentralized renewable energy. Directly comparable to OEKOGENO in its cooperative model, member-driven governance, and citizen-led energy transition mission, though EWS is more vertically integrated into retail electricity supply.
- GreenPlanet Energy (formerly Greenpeace Energy): A Hamburg-based renewable energy cooperative offering green electricity to consumers and investing in wind/solar projects. Directly comparable to OEKOGENO in the German eco-energy cooperative space, with a similar purpose-driven, member-financed model.
- Progeno eG: A German cooperative for ecological and social investments, allowing members to invest in sustainable projects through subordinated loans and cooperative shares. Directly comparable to OEKOGENO's investment product structure (Nachrangdarlehen, Genossenschaftsanteile) and ethical-investor member base.
Emerging players
- Lichtblick SE: A German renewable energy company pioneering decentralized energy concepts including virtual power plants. Comparable in its focus on citizen-driven energy transition and decentralized renewables, but operates as a commercial entity rather than a cooperative structure.
- enerix Franchise GmbH: A German franchise network for photovoltaic installations including Agri-PV solutions. Comparable to OEKOGENO's solar and Agri-PV activities, though enerix operates a commercial franchise model versus OEKOGENO's cooperative citizen-financed approach.
Regional players
- GAG Ludwigshafen: A large regional housing cooperative in Ludwigshafen managing tens of thousands of apartments. Comparable to OEKOGENO's Wohngenossenschaft model of community-oriented rental housing, but at significantly larger scale and concentrated in a single Rhineland-Palatinate city.
Others
- Bundesverband WindEnergie (BWE) member cooperatives: An industry association representing German wind energy actors including many regional Bürgerenergiegenossenschaften. Comparable as a network of regional energy cooperatives pursuing citizen-owned wind projects, the same category as OEKOGENO's regional Ökostromgruppe Freiburg collaboration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OEKOGENO social profiles
Digital presenceOEKOGENO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
OEKOGENO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OEKOGENO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
OEKOGENO subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
OEKOGENO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OEKOGENO 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 OEKOGENO
What does OEKOGENO do?
OEKOGENO eG is a German ecological cooperative that enables citizens to co-invest in and co-govern sustainable projects through purchased cooperative shares (Genossenschaftsanteile starting at 33.71 EUR). Its core deliverables are: inclusive multi-generational housing operated through subsidiary housing cooperatives, citizen-owned solar and wind energy projects (including the 3.7 MWp Agri-PV project in Ottweiler with Next2Sun and the Windfonds 1 turbine at Lahr), and sustainable forestry / moor-rewetting initiatives run via the OEKOGENO-Stiftung. Members receive democratic voting rights (one member, one vote) and access to project-specific investment vehicles such as Nachrangdarlehen (subordinated loans from 2,000 EUR), Solarfonds, Windfonds and Wohnzins Zukunft.
Is OEKOGENO a public or private company?
OEKOGENO is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was OEKOGENO founded?
OEKOGENO was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is OEKOGENO based?
OEKOGENO is headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does OEKOGENO make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Genossenschaftsanteile (Cooperative Shares) is the primary driver. The others are project Financing (Nachrangdarlehen & Crowdinvestment), wohnungsbaugenossenschaft (Housing Cooperative) and energy Project Returns.
Who are OEKOGENO's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Naturstrom AG and berlinovo. Direct peers are Bürgerwerke eG, Elektrizitätswerke Schönau (EWS), GreenPlanet Energy (formerly Greenpeace Energy) and Progeno eG. Emerging players are Lichtblick SE and enerix Franchise GmbH. GAG Ludwigshafen is listed as a regional player. Bundesverband WindEnergie (BWE) member cooperatives is listed as an others.
Does OEKOGENO have an API?
No public API is recorded for OEKOGENO.
What industry is OEKOGENO in?
OEKOGENO's product category is Sustainable Cooperative Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAAAD, Project Finance & Capital Structuring (Debt/Tax Equity/Project Bonds), with a secondary code of EUAMAAAB, Permitting, Environmental & Stakeholder Engagement (EIA/ESIA, Community Relations). Its SIC code is 4991.