Professional paper
A CIVIC CROWDINVESTING INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES: LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE
Mario Rajn
orcid.org/0000-0002-0496-761X
; City of Križevci, I. Z. Dijankovečkoga 12, 48260 Križevci, Croatia
Hrvoje Belani
orcid.org/0000-0003-1392-7502
; P.O.I.N.T. Association, Trg svetog Florijana 16, 48260 Križevci, Croatia
Igor Ljubi
orcid.org/0000-0001-5299-5247
; VERN' University of Applied Sciences, Iblerov trg 10, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Crowdfunding is a collective effort of many individuals who network, usually online, and pool their resources to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowdfunding has various forms, including donations, microloans and ownership shares. This paper presents an experience report of local self-government in City of Križevci, Croatia, in conducting a civic crowdinvesting project in May 2018, aimed to set up an integrated photovoltaic power plant with the power of 30 kW. One of the City’s strategic goals for the next ten years is to achieve energy independence of public administration and institutions, as well as to popularize solar power plants as renewable energy sources affordable to citizens and acceptable to environment. The project named "Sunny Roofs of Križevci" was based on citizen investments in renewable energy sources with the microloan principle. In September 2018, the power plant was set on the roof of the administrative building of the Development Center and Technological Park Križevci. Loans to investors will return with 4.5% of interest over a period of 10 years, from the income generated by electricity production of the plant. This was the first project micro-financed by citizens in the field of renewable energy sources in Croatia.
Keywords
crowdinvesting; solar power plant; microloans; local community; ICT
Hrčak ID:
275596
URI
Publication date:
15.3.2022.
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