In the Netherlands, citizen-led energy initiatives are on the rise. These cooperatives often position themselves in opposition to large energy companies — and with good reason, especially when dealing with monopolistic multinationals like energycompanies . But what happens when the company in question is a small, local business? Could collaboration between residents and entrepreneurs actually lead to more efficient energy solutions in villages?
A Shared Battery: Smart and Sustainable
Take Ciropack, a company in Heiloo participating in the international Reformers project. It has a solid grid connection, plenty of solar panels, and is planning to install a battery for its new electric truck. Meanwhile, local residents are considering a neighborhood battery to store solar energy from their homes. Instead of building separate systems, why not work together?
By slightly upsizing the company’s battery, the additional capacity could be reserved for the neighborhood — a small extra investment with potentially big benefits. Technically, this is feasible: everything happens behind the meter. But how do you organize this legally and operationally?
Three Models for Collaboration
There are several ways to structure such a partnership:
- Cooperative Ownership
The battery is located at the company site but owned by a cooperative of residents. The company becomes a member of the cooperative, which takes full responsibility for the battery’s management. - Company Ownership with Contracts
The company owns the battery and signs contracts with residents. However, this requires the company to manage administration and billing — tasks outside its core business, which many small firms prefer to avoid. - Leasing Capacity to a Cooperative
The company retains ownership but leases part of the battery’s capacity to a cooperative. The cooperative co-finances its share and handles administration, while the company oversees maintenance and general operation.
Hybrid models are also possible. All of them require dialogue and coordination — which can strengthen community ties and foster collaboration. While entrepreneurs and residents may operate differently, mutual understanding in small municipalities can be a powerful asset.
Legal Challenges
One major hurdle is Dutch electricity law, which currently restricts the use of a company’s infrastructure for neighborhood energy storage. However, since Ciropack is part of the international Reformers project, other countries with more flexible regulations might offer creative solutions.
Conclusion: From Opposition to Cooperation
Rather than opposing each other, small businesses and local residents can join forces to build smarter, more sustainable energy systems. In villages and small towns, where relationships are close and interests are local, this kind of collaboration could be a win-win. It requires trust, flexibility, and innovative legal and technical frameworks — but the potential rewards are worth it.
