About us

We know that a green transition through renewables is essential to realise our ambitious climate goals. We also hear stories about local resistance when it comes to large energy park projects sponsored by big companies. How can citizens play a more active role in this transition? How do we make sure local residents get a say in the process to make important decisions? Rather than getting the drawbacks from renewable infrastructures (disturbance to the garden view for example), how can local residents benefit from them? Energy communities might be the answer to these.

Our solar cooperative started from the EU project AURORA, where project partners endeavour to turn "energy community" into reality at 5 European universities and local district councils. The AURORA project helped us to investigate the legal and operational framework on how we set up the community in Aarhus. We choose to adopt the Danish "andelstanke" and set up Universitetets Energifællesskab F.M.B.A. (UEF) as a solar cooperative. in August 2023, UEF is officially founded and a month later, we are registered with the Danish Business Authority. 

The idea of UEF is that members buy shares to crowdfund the rooftop solar photovoltaic installation on a few buildings at Aarhus University (AU). In other words, members all jointly own the solar installation. Electricity produced will primarily be sold to AU, and members will receive economic returns every year, based on how much electricity is sold and how many shares they own. In addition, members have the opportunity to participate in the activities organized by the community, for example, energy-related discussions, hands-on workshop on home-made sensors, to name a few. 

If you are interested in finding out more or considering buying a share, you are welcome to join the community's Google Group, or write to us. 

From left to right: Martin Mørk, Ebbe Gøtske, Andreas Jacobsen, Marta Victoria, Iben Underbjerg, Zhe Zhang