Collective Energy

What Collective Energy does

Collective Energy GmbH is a Vienna-based private renewable energy services company founded in November 2015, operating across three integrated service lines: Energie Consulting (advisory on energy and mobility concepts, efficiency measures, and PV project support), PV Contracting (owned-and-operated photovoltaic installations on client premises under long-term agreements with no upfront capital required by the customer), and Gemeinschaftliche Finanzierung, a reward-based crowdfunding platform that enables citizens to back local PV projects and receive vouchers, products, or natural interest in return. The company also develops and supports renewable energy communities that share locally generated solar power. Cumulative scale includes 30+ PV systems financed via the platform, 3,344 participating citizens, 13,235 MWh of solar output, and 4,835 tonnes of CO2 saved.

The business combines a B2B sales-led motion for consulting and contracting with a community-led bottom-of-funnel crowdfunding channel. Revenue derives from transaction fees on crowdfunding campaigns (typically EUR 49-449 reward tiers), professional services fees for consulting engagements, and recurring electricity-sale economics from owned PV contracting plants since the first in-house plant began operating in summer 2021. The customer base is concentrated in Austrian SMBs — predominantly wineries, organic food producers, and breweries — with an emerging enterprise tier represented by a 246 kWp installation for cinema operator Cineplexx. Distribution is supported by partnerships with voltaigo (technical PV delivery), WEIX Energiesysteme (energy communities), foama (corporate mobility, from January 2026), and an Austrian network including BMK, klimaaktiv, CEOs FOR FUTURE, and WKNÖ.

The firm is privately held and founder-led, with Christoph Strasser appointed Managing Director in 2025. It employs approximately 12 people, has no disclosed external funding, and operates a national Austrian footprint with DACH-region aspirations evidenced by attendance at Intersolar Europe 2026. Technology stack is conventional renewable energy engineering — photovoltaic systems, battery storage, EV charging, and energy community orchestration — overlaid on a proprietary crowdfunding platform; no AI-native product, patents, or external APIs are disclosed.

Name

Collective Energy

Legal name

Collective Energy GmbH

Website

https://collective-energy.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Collective Energy is a Vienna-based renewable energy services firm offering energy consulting, PV contracting, and a reward-based crowdfunding platform that finances local photovoltaic projects, serving Austrian SMBs, municipalities, and citizen backers across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ), DER Aggregation & Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) (EUAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Renewable energy consulting
• Photovoltaic contracting
• Crowdfunding platform
• Energy community development
• Solar project financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Crowdfunding Campaign Coordination: Collective Energy coordinates crowdfunding campaigns for PV projects, facilitating capital raising from community backers. The company structures campaigns, develops reward packages, and manages the funding process for project owners.
2. Energy Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for businesses, municipalities and organizations covering energy concepts, efficiency measures, mobility solutions, and renewable energy project development.
3. PV Contracting: Photovoltaic contracting model where Collective Energy owns and operates PV installations on client premises, providing solar power to clients under long-term agreements without requiring upfront capital investment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Collective Energy delivers renewable energy services for businesses, municipalities and citizen communities in Austria, including energy and mobility consulting, photovoltaic contracting (where the company owns and operates PV systems on client premises under long-term agreements without upfront capital), and a reward-based crowdfunding platform that channels citizen capital into solar installations. The company also develops renewable energy communities enabling shared self-consumption of locally produced solar power.

Product overview

Collective Energy operates a multi-service renewable energy platform consisting of three core offerings: Energie Consulting provides advisory services for energy efficiency, mobility concepts, and PV project support; PV Contracting enables businesses to install solar systems without capital expenditure; and the Crowdfunding platform facilitates community financing of PV installations through reward-based campaigns offering local products as incentives. Additionally, the company supports the development of renewable energy communities. The platform has facilitated over 30 photovoltaic installations through crowdfunding with more than 3,300 participants producing 13,235 MWh of sustainable solar energy and saving 4,835 tonnes of CO2.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energie Consulting Advisory services for sustainable energy and mobility concepts for businesses, municipalities and organizations. Covers energy flow analysis, efficiency improvements, procurement optimization, and independent support for PV and charging infrastructure projects from concept to commissioning.
• PV Contracting Photovoltaic contracting service enabling businesses to use renewable solar power without upfront investment. Collective Energy owns, installs and operates the PV system on the client's premises under a long-term agreement, lowering electricity costs, minimizing risk and strengthening client cashflow.
• Gemeinschaftliche Finanzierung (Crowdfunding) Community financing platform enabling citizens to participate in renewable energy projects through reward-based crowdfunding campaigns. Project owners raise capital while backers receive vouchers, products or natural interest returns as incentives.
• Energiegemeinschaften (Energy Communities) Development and support of renewable energy communities enabling regional energy sharing and collaborative energy transition for groups of households and businesses. Includes smart energy management and load balancing for collective self-consumption.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13,235 MWh of sustainable solar power produced through funded projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• foamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership started January 2026 to make corporate mobility more tangible and develop location-specific strategies for commuter traffic. Together with foama, data-based mobility insights, employee surveys, and measure workshops are created.
• voltaigocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical partner for planning and construction of photovoltaic installations. Collaborated on the 246 kWp Cineplexx Parndorf project.
• Lazard Asset ManagementminorOthersListed as part of the Energy Transition Network on Collective Energy website.
• Blueminds CompanyminorOthersListed as part of the Energy Transition Network on Collective Energy website.
• Energieforum KärntenminorOthersListed as part of the Energy Transition Network on Collective Energy website.
• klimaaktivminorOthersClimate protection initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, listed as network partner.
• Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie (BMK)minorOthersAustrian Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, listed as network partner.
• CEOs FOR FUTUREcoreOthersNetwork of CEOs promoting sustainability and transformation in Austrian business. Collective Energy actively participates in events and provides expert input.
• energyfameliy.atminorOthersListed as part of the Energy Transition Network on Collective Energy website.
• Genossenschaft für GemeinwohlminorOthersListed as part of the Energy Transition Network on Collective Energy website.
• WEIX EnergiesystemecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for energy community projects including joint info events for businesses. WEIX provides energy systems expertise for collective energy solutions.
• Wirtschaftskammer Niederösterreich (WKNÖ)minorOthersListed as network partner. WKNÖ provides business support and networking opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lichtblick: German green electricity supplier and pioneer of virtual power plant aggregation of distributed home energy assets. Comparable for its DER aggregation and renewable community focus that overlaps with Collective Energy's VPP-adjacent energy community work.
• Solarwatt: German PV module manufacturer and integrator offering complete rooftop PV, storage, and EV charging solutions. Comparable for its end-to-end solar-plus-storage proposition for businesses and households, an adjacent offering to Collective Energy's PV consulting and contracting lines.
• 1Komma5°: One of the largest DACH-based PV and heat pump installers with a full-service contracting/subscription offering. Comparable because it sells and operates rooftop PV under long-term contracts to households and businesses, the same core proposition as Collective Energy's PV Contracting, but at materially greater scale.
• Enpal: German PV leasing and subscription company offering solar, storage, heat pumps, and EV charging with no upfront cost. Directly comparable business model to Collective Energy's PV Contracting, and a benchmark for what scaled subscription solar in DACH looks like.

Direct peers

• EWS Elektrizitätswerke Schönau: Member-owned German renewable energy utility founded by citizens after Fukushima. Comparable to Collective Energy because both operate a community-owned, citizen-financed renewable energy model in the DACH region with consulting and contracting-style offerings.
• Otovo: Norwegian-headquartered PV subscription and installation platform operating across several European markets. Directly comparable because both offer residential/C&I PV project development and contracting-style models, and Collective Energy's PV Operations lead Fridolin Auer previously worked at Otovo.
• Bürgerwerke eG: German energy cooperative that aggregates citizen-owned renewable energy across regional energy communities. Comparable to Collective Energy's Energiegemeinschaften offering and community-financed PV model, both rooted in participatory energy transition in German-speaking markets.
• Zolar: German digital platform connecting customers with PV installers and providing financing/leasing options. Comparable because both use a software-first platform to lower the friction of PV project development, though Zolar is Germany-focused and Consumer-only whereas Collective Energy includes a white-label crowdfunding/financing angle.

Regional players

• natürlich energie (Naturstrom): Austrian green electricity supplier focused on 100% renewable supply and citizen participation. Comparable to Collective Energy's positioning as a community-engaged Austrian renewable energy provider serving businesses and municipalities.

Others

• KEM Klima- und Energiemodellregionen: Austrian government initiative supporting regional climate and energy model regions. Comparable because it operates as an enabling ecosystem for community energy projects and municipalities, adjacent to Collective Energy's Energiegemeinschaften and municipal consulting work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/collectiveenergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collectiveenergy
• Instagraminstagram.com/collective.energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Collective Energy