Zuidenwind

What Zuidenwind does

Zuidenwind (legal name: Coöperatieve Vereniging Zuidenwind U.A.) is a Dutch citizen-owned energy cooperative founded in 2011 and headquartered in Nederweert, Netherlands, in the province of Limburg. The cooperative owns and operates five wind turbines across three sites: De Coöperwiek in Neer (single turbine, 98m hub, ~4.5 GWh/year), Windpark Heibloem (two fully-owned turbines), and Windpark Ospeldijk (two of four turbines, with water company WML co-owning the remainder). Technical features include ADLS (Aircraft Detection Lighting System) radar-activated lighting that reduces obstacle lighting hours by ~85%, two 16 kWh LiFePO-4 battery systems with 13.5 kW inverters at substations for peak shaving and grid congestion mitigation, and cable-pooling infrastructure that shares grid connections between wind and solar parks, achieving ~75% synchronization on the Pannenweg industrial park with partner EHP-P. The cooperative also operates an online member portal ('Mijn Zuidenwind'), VR turbine tours, and an open-data production dashboard.

The business model combines energy generation sold to the grid, member participation loans funding new projects, and a €10/year individual membership fee. Revenues also flow through community environmental funds (Omgevingsfondsen Heibloem and Ospeldijk, distributing ~€62k annually), a Stimuleringsfonds and Sponsorfonds for local initiatives, and the 'Aanpak Verduurzaming Verenigingsgebouwen' program co-funded with Gemeente Nederweert for building retrofits. Zuidenwind reaches roughly 17,500 households annually, has donated €225,000 lifetime to local associations, and approaches 1,000 members (milestone reached May 2026).

Zuidenwind serves local citizen members, energy communities (Heibloem Energy Community, Watt2Watt coalition), local businesses on industrial parks, and nonprofits receiving environmental-fund support (e.g., RKSV Merefeldia, RKVV Eindse Boys, Stichting Kinderopvang Meijel, Dorpsraad Ospeldijk). Governance is exercised through the Algemene Ledenvergadering; the current chairman is Guul Smeets, with Jan Snoek as secretary and Har Gootzen as treasurer (elected October 2025). Operations are volunteer-led with a small professional bureau, and the cooperative maintains core partnerships with Nordex and Enercon for turbine maintenance, om | nieuwe energie for energy communities from January 2027, and Energie Samen at the national level.

Name

Zuidenwind

Legal name

Coöperatieve Vereniging Zuidenwind U.A.

Website

https://zuidenwind.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zuidenwind is a Dutch citizen energy cooperative that owns and operates five wind turbines across three wind parks in Limburg, selling power to the grid while serving approximately 1,000 members, local energy communities, businesses, and community organizations through participation loans, environmental funds, and decarbonization programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Renewable Energy

NAICS

Wind Electric Power Generation (221115)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Community & Distributed Wind Power Generation (Behind-the-Meter/Small Wind) (EUACAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wind Farm Ownership & Operations (IPP/Utility-Owned Asset Operations) (EUACAFAF), Wind Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (Scheduled/Unscheduled) (EUAMACAH), Hybrid Wind Power Plants (Wind+Solar+Storage Co-located) (EUACAFAH)

Keywords

• Citizen energy cooperative
• Wind energy generation
• Community wind projects
• Renewable energy cooperative
• Wind park operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Nederweert

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Wind Energy Production and Sales: The cooperative generates revenue by producing electricity through its five owned wind turbines (De Coöperwiek, Heibloem turbines, and Ospeldijk turbines) and selling it to the electricity grid.
2. Member Participation Investments: Members invest in the cooperative through participations (loans). These are essentially loans to the cooperative that fund wind and renewable energy projects. The cooperative repays participations according to an annual financial plan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zuidenwind is a Dutch citizen cooperative that develops, owns, and operates community wind parks (De Coöperwiek, Windpark Heibloem, and a 50% stake in Windpark Ospeldijk). The cooperative generates electricity through five wind turbines, sells energy to the grid and to local businesses via cable pooling, and offers members participations (loans) to fund renewable energy projects. It also runs environmental funds, sustainability grants for local associations, a home battery collective purchasing program, and energy-saving advisory services for members and residents in the Leudal and Nederweert municipalities.

Product overview

Coöperatie Zuidenwind is a Dutch cooperative that owns and operates five wind turbines across three wind parks: De Coöperwiek in Neer (1 turbine), Windpark Heibloem (2 turbines), and Windpark Ospeldijk (2 of 4 turbines, with WML owning the other 2). The cooperative operates as a multi-product energy platform spanning wind energy generation, energy efficiency advisory, home battery initiatives, and energy community development. Its core revenue-generating products are the wind parks themselves. Around these, it offers community benefit programs (Omgevingsfondsen, Stimuleringsfonds, Sponsorfonds), a building decarbonisation program with Gemeente Nederweert, the Watt2Watt energy community project, and a member home battery initiative. Members can invest through participation units (loans).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• De Coöperwiek A single wind turbine located in Neer, owned by Coöperatie Zuidenwind. With a hub height of 98 meters, it produces approximately 4.5 million kWh annually, sufficient to power about 1,300 households. It is open to public visits on the third Saturday of each month (April–October) and offers VR-guided tours.
• Windpark Heibloem A community wind park consisting of two wind turbines, fully owned by Coöperatie Zuidenwind. The park contributes to local energy supply and community benefit through the Omgevingsfonds Heibloem.
• Windpark Ospeldijk A four-turbine wind park in which Coöperatie Zuidenwind co-owns two turbines (with WML owning the other two). Zuidenwind co-owns and manages two turbines and contributes to the local Omgevingsfonds Ospeldijk.
• Omgevingsfonds Heibloem en Ospeldijk Two environmental funds managed by Zuidenwind that allocate portions of wind park revenues to local sustainability and liveability projects within approximately 7 km of the production sites. Decisions are made by local committees using locally defined criteria.
• Stimuleringsfonds A stimulation fund that provides one-time financial contributions to promote the use of sustainable energy and energy-saving measures. Used primarily in the broader area around production sites where member involvement is present.
• Sponsorfonds A sponsorship fund used to support initiatives that enhance the cooperative's public visibility, brand awareness, and social acceptance in the area around production locations.
• Aanpak Verduurzaming Verenigingsgebouwen A joint program with Gemeente Nederweert supporting local associations in energy-saving retrofits of their buildings. Services include energy audits, advice, and financial contributions for solar panel installation, with funds sourced from both Zuidenwind and the municipality.
• Project Thuisbatterij A cooperative-led initiative offering members discounted home battery systems through collective purchasing (Marstek brand), with financial support from Zuidenwind and technical assistance from the Thuisbatterij working group to improve energy self-consumption and simultaneity.
• Project Watt2Watt A three-year collaborative project with ten other wind cooperatives under Energie Samen, aimed at establishing energy communities that allow members to share locally generated wind energy and increase self-consumption from approximately 30% to a minimum of 70%, reducing grid congestion.
• Energiebesparing Energy-saving advisory services provided to members and local residents, including home energy audits, information evenings, and connections to energy coaches who offer personalized energy improvement advice.
• Participaties / Leningen Cooperative participation units offered to members, structured as loans to the cooperative. Members invest in wind and other sustainable energy projects. The General Members' Meeting annually sets the maximum repayment amount. Currently no participations are available pending a new project.
• Cooperative Membership Annual membership that grants citizens access to investment opportunities (participations), cooperative governance through general member meetings, community events, open days at wind turbines, and eligibility for environmental and stimulation funds. Membership costs €10 per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 280,000 MWh of renewable energy generated since 2021
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dark SkycoreTechnology or Integration · 21 May 2026Partnership to implement ADLS (Aircraft Detection Lighting System) on 14 wind turbines across multiple wind parks in the Peel region. System uses radar detection to activate turbine warning lights only when aircraft are nearby, reducing light pollution by approximately 85%. Zuidenwind co-finances implementation with other cooperative wind parks.
• EHP-P (Energie HandelsPlatform Pannenweg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership where Zuidenwind provides wind turbine De Coöperwiek for a smart energy hub at industrial park Pannenweg. Through cable pooling, locally generated solar and wind energy is shared among businesses, improving grid synchronization to approximately 75%.
• om | nieuwe energiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company that will enable energy communities to share locally generated renewable energy starting January 2027. Partnership supports Zuidenwind's energy community development initiatives.
• Energie SamencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational cooperative energy organization that supports local energy cooperatives. Zuidenwind participates in Watt2Watt project under Energie Samen's umbrella, collaborating with ten other wind cooperatives to establish energy communities.
• GreentrustminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCompany that manages wind turbines for WML (water company) in Windpark Ospeldijk. Explored for potential support on Zuidenwind's Ospeldijk turbines.
• NordexcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWind turbine manufacturer and maintenance partner for four of Zuidenwind's turbines. Quarterly meetings held for technical coordination, warranty issues, and operational improvements.
• Nordex EuropacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEuropean division of Nordex responsible for maintenance and repairs on turbines. Conducted major 9-day repair on Ospeldijk turbine replacing hub platform.
• EnerconcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWind turbine manufacturer and maintenance contractor for one of Zuidenwind's turbines (De Coöperwiek).
• WML (Wetterskip Limburg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management company that co-owns Windpark Ospeldijk with Zuidenwind. Partnership for joint wind park development and community benefit sharing.
• Gemeente LeudalcoreOthersMunicipality that mandated citizen participation as condition for wind park permits. Supported establishment of environmental funds and sustainability initiatives.
• Gemeente NederweertcoreOthersMunicipality partnering on building sustainability program (Aanpak Energiebesparing Verenigingsgebouwen) to support local associations in energy efficiency improvements.
• Provinciale Energiediensten Maatschappij (PEM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial energy services company that presented at Heibloem community information evening regarding sustainability options.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vattenfall: Major European utility with significant wind generation in the Netherlands and across the Nordics. Comparable as a wind power operator in the Dutch market, though at a much larger conventional utility scale.
• Eneco: Major Dutch renewable energy producer with utility-scale wind farms. Comparable as a wind power producer in the Netherlands, but Eneco operates at vastly larger scale and across conventional retail electricity supply.
• Statkraft: European state-owned renewable energy generator with substantial wind operations. Comparable as a European wind power market participant trading electricity from renewable assets, though at significantly larger scale.
• Greenchoice: Largest Dutch green energy supplier with significant wind and biomass sourcing. Comparable as a Netherlands-based green electricity provider selling to households, though operating at much larger scale than Zuidenwind.

Regional players

• Raedthuys Group: Dutch wind and solar developer active in regional projects with co-development and community participation models. Comparable to Zuidenwind on the citizen-participatory wind development approach in Dutch regional markets.

Direct peers

• Energie Samen: Dutch national umbrella for local energy cooperatives, including the Watt2Watt coalition in which Zuidenwind participates. Directly comparable as the cooperative ecosystem peer for energy community development in the Netherlands.
• Qurrent: Dutch green energy cooperative supplying renewable electricity to households and businesses. Comparable to Zuidenwind on the cooperative distribution model and Dutch renewable retail market.
• Windunie: Dutch cooperative of wind turbine owners that collectively manages operations, maintenance, and trading for member-owned turbines. Comparable to Zuidenwind on cooperative ownership of distributed wind assets and shared O&M scale.
• Pure Energie: Dutch energy cooperative that develops and operates citizen-owned wind and solar projects across the Netherlands. Highly comparable to Zuidenwind as a member-funded wind cooperative with local participation and community-benefit programs.
• De Windvogel: Dutch citizen cooperative focused on locally owned wind energy projects in the Netherlands. Comparable as a community/buurt wind cooperative model with member-invested participations and local siting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cooperatiezuidenwind/?locale=nl_NL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zuidenwind-cooperatie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Zuidenwind