Known for championing companies focused on carbon reduction and sustainability in Ireland, Green Crowd is now setting its sights on the rapidly growing renewable energy market across Europe.

Recently authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland as a Crowdfunding Service Provider, Green Crowd aims to launch cross-border crowdfunding initiatives by 2025, offering investors a unique platform to support green projects beyond Ireland.

“We’re hoping to create a European-wide community of investors interested in the green space,” said Paul Browne, chief executive of Green Crowd. “Even when crossing borders, we’ll still focus on green and renewable projects.”

This focus aligns with the escalating public and private interest in sustainability, where investors increasingly view eco-conscious choices as crucial drivers of both ethical and financial growth.

While future plans involve expansion across Europe, Green Crowd’s current focus remains on Ireland. With decarbonisation and sustainable energy initiatives taking centre stage, more businesses view these goals as core operational values rather than optional cost-saving strategies.

This trend highlights a shift in Ireland’s business landscape, where sustainability is becoming a cornerstone of competitive advantage.

This year, Green Crowd’s platform will spotlight three Irish companies dedicated to environmental innovation, all seeking capital under the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS). This scheme, designed to foster economic growth and environmental impact, offers tax relief to investors, adding a financial incentive to support eco-friendly ventures.

“There have been significant changes in EIIS over the past 12 months,” stated Browne. “There are now differing rates of tax relief depending on the company looking for investment, ranging from 50 per cent down to 20 per cent. This tiered tax relief structure allows investors to make tailored decisions based on their individual risk appetites, broadening the appeal of the scheme.”

One of the featured companies on Green Crowd’s platform is Sailor’s Home, an award-winning Irish whiskey brand with a unique sustainability angle. Established in 2019, the company has established itself in more than 20 markets globally and now seeks EIIS funds to scale its business and develop a sustainable distillery operation in Limerick.

Offering a 35 per cent tax relief, Sailor’s Home provides added security to investors through its established operations and current stock and assets, a significant draw for risk-conscious investors.

With solar energy still a hot area of interest for investors, Green Crowd will be offering two investment opportunities in this area. Eden Solar Farm Development focuses on installing solar farms across the country whilst SRE Renewables is focussing on PV installations on commercial buildings, offering businesses a practical path to energy sustainability.

Both companies align with Ireland’s broader push toward renewable energy sources, and investor interest is anticipated to be strong.

Both companies qualify for the 50 per cent tax relief rate, making it an appealing choice for investors looking for both substantial tax incentives and a role in advancing Ireland’s solar capacity.

“Eden and SRE are brand new companies, so they’re able to avail of the 50 per cent tax relief,” says Browne. “Sailor’s Home, however, offers a unique proposition with 35 per cent tax relief backed by existing assets, giving investors a choice based on their preferred balance of risk and security.”

Previous successful campaigns on Green Crowd’s platform include Solarstream, which offers PV solar panels on a solar-as-a-service agreement to residential homeowners. It raised just over €3 million under EIIS, of which €1.7m was raised by Green Crowd.

There is also Avoncourt Construction, which raised €616,000 of EIIS funding via Green Crowd to help it develop sustainable homes across the country. as well as Bioenergy Installations which provides a unique scheme for customers to save on heating by using renewable biomass heating energy systems. It raised €528,000 of funds under the EIIS programme in 2021 via the Green Crowd platform.

Green Crowd’s forward-looking plans underscore its commitment to both sustainability and investor empowerment.

With a portfolio dedicated to environmentally driven companies, the platform aims to connect investors with high-potential ventures that promise not only financial returns but also positive environmental impacts.

Looking ahead, Green Crowd is exploring funding mechanisms that go beyond EIIS, envisioning itself as a pioneering green non-bank lender.

“There is huge scope in this area and plenty of interest from investors,” says Browne. “We’re seeing private funds increasingly interested in the green space, and that’s a promising sign for future growth.”

“By positioning itself as a bridge between private capital and eco-conscious enterprises, Green Crowd is poised to make a lasting impact in Europe’s green finance ecosystem.”

This article first appeared in The Business Post.