Vrijopnaam
Vrijopnaam (operating as Zonopnaam Energie) is a Dutch cooperative that supplies 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to approximately 40,000 residential customers, while enabling households without suitable roofs to buy solar generation rights in shared Dutch solar parks via its Paneelopnaam product and app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRijen, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Vrijopnaam does
Vrijopnaam, now operating as Zonopnaam Energie, is a Dutch residential energy supplier headquartered in Rijen, Netherlands, founded around 2016 and structured as a cooperative. The company supplies 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to approximately 40,000 residential customers, addressing a specific niche: Dutch households who want to participate in solar energy but cannot install panels on their own rooftops due to orientation, rental, or structural constraints.
The core product is a dual-fuel supply contract under the "Zonnestroom en Gas" line, paired with the "Paneelopnaam" module that allows customers to purchase generation rights (€55 for 5 years or €90 for 10 years) in shared Dutch solar parks, with output credited against their annual energy statement. A newer Dynamisch Contract offers hourly-priced electricity tied to the wholesale market. The technical layer is a standard energy retail platform with a consumer-facing mobile application ("Zonopnaam App") that provides hourly, daily, monthly, and annual consumption views, monthly installment adjustments, and tariff access. Generation is sourced from a portfolio of Dutch solar parks operated or aggregated by the company, with HIER!-certified green credentials.
The business model is two-stream: recurring commodity-margin revenue from gas and electricity supply to residential customers (subscription / consumption-based), plus a small but pointed one-time fee stream from Paneelopnaam rights purchases. Customer acquisition runs primarily through direct-to-consumer digital channels — the company website, an online calculator ("Start berekening"), comparison platform presence (Consumentenbond, Overstappen.nl, Klantenvertellen.nl at 8.9/10 across 1,775 reviews), earned-media testimonials, and a partner referral channel for urgent switch applications. The company reinvests proceeds into additional solar park capacity and brand expansion, rebranding from Vrijopnaam to Zonopnaam Energie in 2025 to consolidate its identity as a Dutch solar energy specialist.
Vrijopnaam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vrijopnaam
- Legal name
- Zonopnaam Energie
- Website
- https://vrijopnaam.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vrijopnaam (operating as Zonopnaam Energie) is a Dutch cooperative that supplies 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to approximately 40,000 residential customers, while enabling households without suitable roofs to buy solar generation rights in shared Dutch solar parks via its Paneelopnaam product and app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vrijopnaam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Energy Supply
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)
Keywords
Where Vrijopnaam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rijen
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vrijopnaam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Energy Supply (Solar Electricity and Gas): Recurring revenue from supplying 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to residential customers. Customers pay monthly based on consumption tracked via smart meters, with term amounts adjustable through the app or customer service.
- Paneelopnaam (Solar Panel Rights): One-time purchase of solar panel capacity rights in Dutch solar parks. Customers pay upfront for 5-year (€55) or 10-year (€90) rights to generate their own electricity, with returns credited to their annual energy statement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Paneelopnaam 5-year term |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Paneelopnaam 10-year term |
| Subscription | Monthly | Solar electricity and gas supply contract |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vrijopnaam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vrijopnaam (DBA Zonopnaam Energie) supplies 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to Dutch residential households on a recurring contract. Customers can additionally purchase Paneelopnaam rights (€55 for 5 years or €90 for 10 years) to generate their own solar electricity in shared Dutch solar parks when rooftop installation is not possible. Consumption and contracts are managed through the Zonopnaam mobile app and website.
Product overview
Vrijopnaam (now Zonopnaam Energie) is a Dutch energy company offering a portfolio of solar energy products. The core offering consists of Zonnestroom en Gas (renewable electricity and CO2-compensated gas supply) combined with the Zonopnaam App for consumption monitoring. The Paneelopnaam module allows customers without suitable roofs to generate their own solar power in Dutch solar parks. An optional Dynamisch Contract provides hourly-priced electricity to enable savings during off-peak periods. The company rebranded from Vrijopnaam to Zonopnaam Energie in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zonnestroom en Gas (Solar Electricity and CO2-Compensated Gas) Recurring residential energy supply contract delivering 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to Dutch households. Customers pay monthly term amounts based on consumption tracked via smart meters, with rates available in the Zonopnaam app.
- Paneelopnaam (Solar Panel Rights) One-time purchase of solar panel capacity rights in a Dutch solar park for customers who cannot install panels on their own roof. Pricing is €55 for 5 years or €90 for 10 years, with generated electricity credited against the customer's annual energy statement. Requires an active Zonopnaam Energie supply contract.
- Dynamisch Contract (Dynamic Electricity Contract) Optional electricity contract priced hourly against the real-time market, allowing residential customers to benefit from lower prices during off-peak hours.
- Zonopnaam App Mobile app for existing customers that displays hourly, daily, monthly, and annual electricity and gas consumption, allows term-amount adjustments, and provides access to contract details and current/historical tariffs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40,000+ customers served
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Vrijopnaam
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Vrijopnaam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vrijopnaam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vrijopnaam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- OM | Nieuwe Energie: Dutch green energy supplier with 100% renewable sourcing from Dutch wind/solar. Comparable Dutch-focused green-only retail proposition targeting the same consumer segment.
- Vandebron: Dutch renewable energy supplier that connects households directly to Dutch wind and solar producers (originally as a producer-to-consumer marketplace). Directly comparable as a Dutch green-energy retailer emphasizing local sourcing.
- Greenchoice: Dutch retail energy supplier specializing in 100% green electricity (wind, solar, biomass). Directly comparable as a Dutch-focused green-only residential energy retailer competing for the same customer as Vrijopnaam/Zonopnaam.
- Energie VanOns: Dutch cooperative energy supplier owned by local cooperatives, supplying locally-generated renewable energy to Dutch households. Directly comparable in both customer segment (Dutch residential) and cooperative ownership structure.
- Pure Energie: Dutch energy supplier that owns and operates Dutch wind and solar parks and supplies green electricity to residential customers. Closely comparable vertically-integrated Dutch renewable retail model.
- Budget Energie: Dutch low-cost energy supplier serving residential customers via direct-to-consumer digital channels. Comparable customer acquisition motion and Dutch residential focus, though less green-only positioning.
- Powerpeers: Dutch energy supplier pioneering peer-to-peer energy trading between households with solar panels and consumers. Comparable as a Dutch residential green-energy retailer leveraging digital/app channels.
Broad incumbents
- Vattenfall (Nuon): Major incumbent Dutch energy supplier (formerly Nuon) serving millions of Dutch households with a mix of fossil and renewable supply. Comparable customer base and supply model but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Eneco: Largest Dutch energy retailer offering both green and grey tariffs, with its own wind/solar portfolio. Comparable Dutch residential energy supply and renewable generation, but operates as broad incumbent rather than green-only niche.
Emerging players
- Coolblue Energie: Dutch energy supplier launched by Coolblue leveraging the parent retail brand and digital customer base. Emerging Dutch residential energy retailer targeting the same direct-to-consumer segment as Vrijopnaam.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Vrijopnaam social profiles
Digital presenceVrijopnaam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vrijopnaam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Vrijopnaam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vrijopnaam 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 Vrijopnaam
What does Vrijopnaam do?
Vrijopnaam (DBA Zonopnaam Energie) supplies 100% Dutch solar electricity and CO2-compensated gas to Dutch residential households on a recurring contract. Customers can additionally purchase Paneelopnaam rights (€55 for 5 years or €90 for 10 years) to generate their own solar electricity in shared Dutch solar parks when rooftop installation is not possible. Consumption and contracts are managed through the Zonopnaam mobile app and website.
Is Vrijopnaam a public or private company?
Vrijopnaam is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vrijopnaam founded?
Vrijopnaam was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vrijopnaam based?
Vrijopnaam is headquartered in Rijen, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Vrijopnaam make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Energy Supply (Solar Electricity and Gas) is the primary driver. The others are paneelopnaam (Solar Panel Rights).
Who are Vrijopnaam's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are OM | Nieuwe Energie, Vandebron, Greenchoice, Energie VanOns, Pure Energie, Budget Energie and Powerpeers. Broad incumbents are Vattenfall (Nuon) and Eneco. Coolblue Energie is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vrijopnaam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vrijopnaam.
What industry is Vrijopnaam in?
Vrijopnaam's product category is Retail Energy Supply. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAJ, Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization). Its NAICS code is 221114.