Eole-Lien
Eole-Lien is a Belgian citizen-owned renewable energy cooperative that builds and operates community-financed wind turbines and photovoltaic installations in Temploux, Wallonia, selling electricity through partner cooperative COCITER to local households while recycling profits into regional solidarity projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersTemploux, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Eole-Lien does
Eole-Lien (legal entity: SC EOLE-LIEN) is a Belgian citizen-owned renewable energy cooperative society founded on September 26, 2013 and headquartered at Rue du Bout du Village 54, 5020 Temploux, Belgium. It was created following a 2012 citizen reaction to a commercial wind project proposed near a local aerodrome, when ten founders each invested €1,000 to establish a cooperative alternative. The cooperative's core activity is the construction, ownership, and operation of wind turbines and photovoltaic installations in the Temploux region of Wallonia. It currently operates one wind turbine (Eolienne 1, online circa 2020) and a 144-panel (43.2 kWp) photovoltaic array on the ASBL Brocante tennis hall roof producing 36,700 kWh per year (commissioned March 2019), and is developing a second wind turbine (Eolienne 2, ENERCON machine, €6.6 million financing closed late 2025, construction starting April 2026, production early 2027).
Eole-Lien's business model is built on community financing combined with cooperative energy production. Citizens become cooperators by purchasing €100 shares (capped at 250 shares or €25,000 per person, €1,000 for new cooperators), with annual dividends capped at 6% gross and surplus profits recycled into social and environmental projects via the 'Fonds Eole-Lien Solidaire' managed by the King Baudouin Foundation. The cooperative had raised approximately €525,000 in share capital and €500,000 in subordinated loans from 350 cooperators by February 2018, and is conducting a new capital raise window through 2026. All energy generated is offtaken by COCITER, a cooperative electricity supplier in which Eole-Lien holds co-ownership as one of 16 member cooperatives, creating a short-circuit ('circuit court') energy model where cooperators are simultaneously producers, owners, and consumers.
Eole-Lien serves three primary segments: (i) local citizens seeking ethical investment in renewable energy with capped financial returns plus social/environmental impact, (ii) households and small consumers purchasing green electricity through COCITER, and (iii) local social and environmental projects in Namur receiving grants from the solidarity fund. The cooperative is a member of RESCOOP WALLONIE (the Walloon federation of renewable energy cooperatives, operator of the CoopHub membership platform) and holds the Financité-Fair&Fin ethical finance label. Through the SeaCoop consortium of 34 Belgian cooperatives, Eole-Lien also co-owns 5 offshore wind turbines from the Northwind farm serving 15,000 Belgian households. The cooperative is governed by a 10-member volunteer board, has between 11 and 50 employees, and operates exclusively in the Belgian Wallonia region.
Eole-Lien firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eole-Lien
- Legal name
- SC EOLE-LIEN
- Website
- https://eole-lien.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Eole-Lien is a Belgian citizen-owned renewable energy cooperative that builds and operates community-financed wind turbines and photovoltaic installations in Temploux, Wallonia, selling electricity through partner cooperative COCITER to local households while recycling profits into regional solidarity projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eole-Lien industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Renewable Energy Generation (Wind and Solar)
- NAICS
- Wind Electric Power Generation (221115)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
Keywords
Where Eole-Lien is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Temploux
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Eole-Lien business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Wind turbine electricity sales: The cooperative generates revenue by selling electricity produced by its wind turbine(s) through COCITER, the cooperative energy supplier. The surplus from photovoltaic panels placed on the tennis hall roof is also sold to COCITER.
- Photovoltaic energy sales: Sale of surplus photovoltaic energy to COCITER. The installation on the ASBL Brocante de Temploux roof produces 36,700 kWh/year, with two-thirds self-consumed by the partner organization and one-third sold back to the grid via COCITER.
- Cooperative share dividends: Cooperators purchase shares at €100 each (maximum 250 shares per person, €25,000). The cooperative distributes annual dividends capped at 6% gross return on investment. Profits above the 6% dividend are reinvested in social and environmental projects.
- Subordinated loans: Eole-Lien raises capital through subordinated loans from individuals, complementing share capital and institutional financing for wind turbine projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard cooperative share - €100 per share |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Eole-Lien product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eole-Lien is a citizen-owned cooperative (SC EOLE-LIEN) that builds, owns, and operates wind turbines and a photovoltaic solar installation in the Temploux region of Wallonia, Belgium. The cooperative generates renewable electricity which it sells through cooperative partner COCITER, and distributes capped dividends (6% gross) to its cooperators while reinvesting surplus profits into local social and environmental projects via the Fonds Eole-Lien Solidaire.
Product overview
EOLE-LIEN is a citizen energy cooperative based in Temploux, Belgium, operating a portfolio of renewable energy assets. Its core products are two wind turbines (Eolienne 1 operational since ~2020, Eolienne 2 under development with construction starting April 2026) and a photovoltaic installation on a local tennis hall roof (144 panels, operational since March 2019). Energy is sold through its supplier-partner COCITER, in which EOLE-LIEN holds a co-owner stake as one of 16 member cooperatives. The cooperative also participates in the SeaCoop 'Notre énergie' offshore wind initiative, co-owning 5 Northwind turbines. Revenue above the 6% dividend cap funds the 'Fonds Eole-Lien Solidaire', managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, which supports local social and environmental projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fonds Eole-Lien Solidaire: A dedicated fund created in 2023 in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation to stimulate and support ethical and solidarity projects in the Namur region, with priority for Temploux and surrounding villages. Focus areas: sustainable energy and biodiversity.
Products and services
- Eolienne 1 (Wind Turbine 1) The first citizen-owned wind turbine operated by EOLE-LIEN in the Temploux region, producing renewable electricity that is sold through cooperative partner COCITER.
- Eolienne 2 (Wind Turbine 2) A second wind turbine project in Temploux. Permit obtained end 2024, construction planned to start April 2026 with production expected in early 2027. Supplier: ENERCON. Financed via €1M new cooperative shares, €1M subordinated loans, and €4.6M from Credal, VDK Bank, and F'in Common.
- Photovoltaic Installation (Tennis Hall) 144 solar panels (300 Wc each) installed on the roof of the ASBL Brocante tennis hall in Temploux, producing 36,700 kWh/year. Two-thirds self-consumed by the ASBL, one-third sold to COCITER. After 10 years, ownership transfers to ASBL Brocante.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000 tonnes CO₂ reduction per year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Eole-Lien
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Eole-Lien technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Eole-Lien partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ENERCONcoreENERCON is the supplier of the wind turbine machine for Eolienne 2. Contract signed in September 2025 as part of the second wind turbine project.
- Fondation Roi Baudouin (FRB)coreThe King Baudouin Foundation manages the 'Fonds Eole-Lien Solidaire' created in 2023. FRB launches annual project calls, manages jury selection, and administers the fund for supporting ethical and solidarity projects in the Namur region.
- COCITERcoreCOCITER is the cooperative energy supplier through which Eole-Lien sells its electricity production. Eole-Lien is one of 16 citizen energy cooperatives that are cooperators of COCITER. The surplus photovoltaic energy is sold to COCITER, and wind turbine energy is sold through COCITER to consumers. This creates a 'circuit court' (short-circuit) energy model.
- RESCOOP WALLONIEcoreEole-Lien is a member of RESCOOP WALLONIE, the Walloon federation of renewable energy cooperatives. RESCOOP-W created the CoopHub platform for cooperative share management across member cooperatives.
- ASBL Brocante de TemplouxcoreOwner of the tennis hall roof where Eole-Lien installed 144 photovoltaic panels. ASBL Brocante self-consumes two-thirds of production at a fixed price, with ownership transferring to them after 10 years of exploitation.
- SeaCoopminorSeaCoop is a consortium of 34 Belgian renewable energy cooperatives including Eole-Lien. Together they launched the 'Notre énergie' platform and co-owned 5 offshore wind turbines from the Northwind park.
- NorthwindminorNorthwind is an offshore wind farm whose 5 turbines were acquired by SeaCoop. These turbines produce electricity for 15,000 Belgian households.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Eole-Lien competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Enercoop: French cooperative supplier of 100% renewable electricity, owned by citizens and producers. Direct comparable: European energy cooperative producing and selling citizen-financed renewable electricity.
- Energy4All: UK cooperative that supports communities in developing citizen-owned renewable energy projects. Comparable: peer cooperative enabler in citizen-financed community energy in a different geography.
- Som Energia: Catalan/Spanish cooperative of citizens and producers developing and supplying renewable electricity. Closely comparable: member-financed renewable projects with cooperative governance and dividend caps.
- Energie Samen: Dutch federation supporting local energy cooperatives developing renewable projects. Direct comparable: peer federation in the RESCOOP-like ecosystem of cooperative renewable energy across the Benelux.
- EWS Elektrizitätswerke Schönau: German citizen-owned energy cooperative that became a regional electricity supplier. Direct comparable: European cooperative whose growth from a single community power project to a multi-utility supplier demonstrates the pathway open to Eole-Lien.
- Ecopower: Belgian citizen cooperative that produces and supplies renewable electricity from wind, solar and biomass to its members. Direct comparable: Belgian cooperative model, citizen-financed renewables, member dividend-based revenue.
- SeaCoop: Consortium of 34 Belgian renewable energy cooperatives (including Eole-Lien) co-owning 5 Northwind offshore wind turbines via the 'Notre énergie' platform. Direct comparable: cooperative aggregation model serving 15,000 Belgian households with green energy.
- COCITER: Belgian cooperative energy supplier owned by 16 citizen energy cooperatives including Eole-Lien. Extremely comparable: sister cooperative acting as the offtake supplier for Eole-Lien's wind and PV production in a 'circuit court' model.
Broad incumbents
- Greenpeace Energy: German cooperative green energy supplier with national scale. Broader incumbent than Eole-Lien but shares the cooperative-ownership, renewable-supply model and competes for ethically minded European energy consumers.
Others
- RESCOOP Wallonie: Walloon federation of renewable energy cooperatives of which Eole-Lien is a member. Relevant as the ecosystem organizer that helped build CoopHub and represents 16 cooperatives including COCITER participants.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Eole-Lien social profiles
Digital presenceEole-Lien compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Eole-Lien financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eole-Lien leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Eole-Lien funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Eole-Lien 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 Eole-Lien
What does Eole-Lien do?
Eole-Lien is a citizen-owned cooperative (SC EOLE-LIEN) that builds, owns, and operates wind turbines and a photovoltaic solar installation in the Temploux region of Wallonia, Belgium. The cooperative generates renewable electricity which it sells through cooperative partner COCITER, and distributes capped dividends (6% gross) to its cooperators while reinvesting surplus profits into local social and environmental projects via the Fonds Eole-Lien Solidaire.
Is Eole-Lien a public or private company?
Eole-Lien is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Eole-Lien founded?
Eole-Lien was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Eole-Lien based?
Eole-Lien is headquartered in Temploux, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does Eole-Lien make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Wind turbine electricity sales are the primary driver. The others are photovoltaic energy sales, cooperative share dividends and subordinated loans.
Who are Eole-Lien's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Enercoop, Energy4All, Som Energia, Energie Samen, EWS Elektrizitätswerke Schönau, Ecopower, SeaCoop and COCITER. Greenpeace Energy is listed as a broad incumbent. RESCOOP Wallonie is listed as an others.
Does Eole-Lien have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eole-Lien.
What industry is Eole-Lien in?
Eole-Lien's product category is Renewable Energy Generation (Wind and Solar). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAD, Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind, with a secondary code of EUACALAJ, Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro). Its NAICS code is 221115 and its SIC code is 4991.