Wikipedia
BeauVent (cooperative) is a Belgian energy cooperative. The cooperative was established on June, 21, 2000 with the goal to:
- invest in production facilities for renewable energy production, and to acquire the financial means for this by a cooperative model;
- promote the production and use of renewable energy sources;
- unite the consumers of this energy and convince them to consume less energy.
The first two wind turbines were built and operational since March 2005, in the village of Nieuwkapelle near Diksmuide. A third wind turbine (a turbine with rotor diameter of 70 m and 2.3 MW capacity) was constructed in May 2007 in the village Gistel.
A project with the production of rapeseed oil was not successful and had been stopped.
Since 2006 the cooperative is also active with solar energy production, starting from the wish of individual cooperative members to invest in rooftop solar panels, and evolved to the installation of PV-systems to external clients. The total capacity of solar panels installed surpassed 1.5 MW in 2010.
Since 2014 the cooperative is also active in energy efficiency measures and the use of cogeneration of heat and power.
The cooperative is a member of the European federation of renewable energy cooperatives REScoop.eu.