{"id":2754,"date":"2017-03-27T09:16:37","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T08:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecrowdinvest.com\/blog\/?p=2754"},"modified":"2017-03-27T09:20:15","modified_gmt":"2017-03-27T08:20:15","slug":"self-consumption-viladamat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exchange.ecrowdinvest.com\/blog\/self-consumption-viladamat\/","title":{"rendered":"The quiet, collaborative, clean energy revolution of Viladamat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Self-consumption<\/a><\/p>\n

Viladamat is a quiet town of 440 inhabitants nestled in the hills of Alt Emporda, in the picturesque province of Girona. This small, quiet town of 440 inhabitants rarely attracts the interest of the outside world.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is all about to change, however, as the town has just embarked on a historical self-consumption project which could well set in motion a revolution of \u201cdemocratic financing for clean energy\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here comes the sun<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"Rober<\/a>

Rober Sabater, mayor of Viladamat<\/p><\/div>\n

Robert Sabater, the dynamic mayor of the town had been thinking for a long time about supporting and using renewable energy for the town\u2019s infrastructure. In the last quarter of 2016, he was determined to put thoughts into action and appointed local engineering company SUNO to conduct a study and propose a clean energy action plan for Viladamat.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, SUNO pinpointed a fantastic opportunity for a solar self-consumption installation on the roof of the town hall. SUNO\u2019s final proposal was for the installation of 12 solar photovoltaic modules, delivering 3,4Kw of power – enough clean electricity to power the entire town hall!<\/span><\/p>\n

The proposal captivated everyone\u2019s attention – the town council would save up to 1000 \u20ac per year on its electricity bill and CO2 emissions would be reduced by 2,5 Tm per year. Perhaps most importantly, there was no better way for the town council to encourage the development of clean energy then by paving the way. <\/span><\/p>\n

Raising the capital<\/b><\/h2>\n

The council was enthusiastic. The proposed self-consumption solar installation offered a clear return on the upfront investment of nearly 15.000 \u20ac. The region of Girona offered a 6.000 \u20ac subvention to the project. What was missing was a legal way to raise the remaining capital through the local population.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SUNO, which knew about ECrowd! as a source of alternative finance for positive impact projects, organised a three-way meeting with the town council. It was an immediate hit as all parties immediately saw the fantastic synergies and possibilities. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This was a bold move! \u00a0Viladamat was pioneering as the very first Spanish municipality to collaborate with a crowdlending platform to fund a clean energy project. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And it paid off. <\/b><\/h3>\n

After, formalising legal and administrative terms and conditions, Viladamat and ECrowd! signed a historic agreement that will undoubtedly pave the way for municipal clean energy projects in need of alternative financing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crowdlending at Kilometer zero!<\/b><\/h2>\n

ECrowd! has experience leveraging solar self-consumption projects. In particular, Ecrowd! has financed the highly successful Mar de Fulles Eco-hotel installation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Without question, Viladamat\u2019s clean energy project conforms to ECrowd\u2019s key requirements: <\/span><\/p>\n