Zon op Leiden

About

Founded in 2018, Zon op Leiden is a co-op headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands with approximately 1-10 employees specializing in Solar.

Zon op Leiden is a cooperative founded by and for Leiden residents to democratize access to solar energy. The organization identifies suitable large rooftops across the city and installs solar panels with community investment. Members purchase solar certificates (costing approximately €250 each), yielding approximately 250 kWh of local green electricity annually. Returns are distributed to members, with typical payback periods of 9 years. The cooperative operates three solar installations: Sporthal Houtkwartier (512 certificates, 504 panels, operational since December 2018), De Arcade (244 certificates, 194 panels, operational since December 2021), and Lorentzschool (320 certificates, 208 panels, operational since January 2025). In 2025, the cooperative generated approximately 286,000 kWh, sufficient to power approximately 138 households. The organization is staffed primarily by professional volunteers and is governed by elected board members from the membership.

Projects