The energy transition offers an unprecedented opportunity for private investors. Models like Crowmie‘s are transforming the way industrial self-consumption projects in the photovoltaic sector are financed, combining profitability, technology, and sustainability.

“Only 17% of Spaniards are concerned with investing their savings beyond leaving them idle in the bank,” states Pablo Valverde, CMO and co-founder of the firm, in conversation with Strategic Energy Europe.

This figure reveals a market with huge potential to channel investments into renewable energy, encouraging participation from small and medium-sized investors.

Crowmie has developed a model where it acts as the owner of the assets, removing the need for traditional intermediaries.

“We are not a crowdfunding platform; the asset belongs to us, which allows for agile transactions and makes it easier for investors to manage their stakes,” Valverde explains.

With an average annual return of 9%, the company has secured the loyalty of more than 550 investors across 30 countries, boasting an 85% reinvestment rate.

“Our investors reinvest continuously, both in new projects and in those already active,” the executive highlights.

Crowmie’s current strategy focuses on financing industrial photovoltaic self-consumption projects, having identified challenges in large-scale developments, which are marked by high capitalisation costs and regulatory barriers.

Energy market challenges and the role of decentralised investment

“We are facing a scenario where nuclear plants across Europe are being dismantled, creating uncertainty around energy supply stability,” warns Valverde, viewing this moment as a significant opportunity to stabilise energy costs for industries through self-consumption solutions.

He further explains that in Spain, Utility Scale projects encounter restrictions that hinder their growth. “Limited grid access leads to unnecessary competition and increased costs, which is why we chose to focus on a segment where no one else was participating,” he says, referring to industrial projects.

Crowmie expects to close 2025 with over 40 managed projects, reflecting exponential growth since its inception three years ago.

Once financing contracts are completed, the projects are transferred to the industries, allowing them to benefit from up to 30 years of operational life of the installations.

“People believe that investing is complicated or inaccessible, but it’s quite the opposite. Beyond generating wealth, you’re helping the planet by promoting clean energy and reducing industrial pollution,” Valverde emphasises.

The current challenge is twofold: to continue democratising investment in renewables and to contribute to a more stable, sustainable, and innovation-friendly energy ecosystem.