Problem addressed

Windunie responds to the urgent need for a fair, climate‑neutral energy system in the Netherlands, where grid congestion and volatile prices hinder the transition to renewables. Many rural and peri‑urban communities lack control over energy production assets, resulting in limited local ownership, weak citizen participation and unequal distribution of benefits. Conventional large‑scale projects often overlook social cohesion and long‑term value creation for residents, farmers and local businesses. At the same time, the rapid growth of wind and solar power demands smarter coordination between generation and consumption at regional level. Without new cooperative models, opportunities for local income, stable prices and sustainable land use remain underused, slowing down the energy transition and eroding public support for new projects.

Innovative solution

Windunie is a cooperative developer and energy partner that connects landowners, citizen energy cooperatives, businesses and public actors to jointly develop wind and solar parks, battery storage and smart energy hubs with maximum local ownership. Acting from “idea to operation”, the organisation co‑invests in new systems, designs integrated wind‑and‑solar solutions, and supports partners throughout permitting, construction, management and power sales. Windunie pioneers local‑for‑local models in which generation and use are closely matched, combining technical optimisation with strong resident participation. The cooperative structure enables democratic decision‑making, long‑term collaboration and fair pricing for producers and off‑takers. By aiming structurally for at least 50% and ideally 90% local ownership, Windunie embeds energy assets in the community and aligns climate goals with local economic development.

Key results and benefits

For over 20 years, Windunie and its members have been supplying sustainable electricity in the Netherlands and are involved in roughly half of all onshore wind projects. The cooperative now contributes to green power for around three million households, increasingly combining wind with solar generation and emerging storage solutions. Partners benefit from professional project management, reduced risks, and long‑term, reliable and fixed prices for both producers and energy users. Local communities gain structural revenue streams, strengthened citizen participation and visible ownership of the energy transition in their area. Windunie’s approach helps alleviate grid pressure via smart energy hubs and tailored local systems, while also improving acceptance of new projects through transparent collaboration with landowners, companies and social organisations.

Potential for mainstreaming

Windunie’s cooperative, local‑ownership model demonstrates how the energy transition can be accelerated while keeping value in the region and building trust among citizens. The approach is highly transferable to other areas facing grid constraints, rising prices and low public acceptance of renewable projects. Key features with mainstreaming potential include structured citizen participation, co‑investment opportunities for local stakeholders, and integrated solutions that combine generation, conversion and storage. As the organisation prepares to expand from onshore wind into offshore wind and more advanced energy hubs, its experience can inform broader policies on energy communities and locally governed systems. Embedding principles such as minimum 50% local ownership, long‑term partnerships and local‑for‑local power supply can support national and EU ambitions for a fair, climate‑neutral and resilient energy system.