Berlin-based VREY raises €3.3M to unlock shared-roof solar

Berlin-based climatetech startup VREY has secured €3.3 million in seed funding, signaling a significant push towards democratizing solar energy in multi-family buildings across Europe. This investment, led by Rubio Impact Ventures with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds and Kopa Ventures, highlights the growing investor confidence in solutions addressing the complex challenges of shared energy infrastructure. VREY's innovative platform aims to simplify solar deployment for property owners by enabling direct electricity supply to tenants without the traditional burdens of becoming an energy supplier. The core of VREY's offering lies in its ability to operationalize new regulatory frameworks, such as Germany's "Gemeinschaftliche Gebäudeversorgung." This framework removes the requirement for property owners to act as energy suppliers, a long-standing barrier to solar adoption in buildings with shared roofs, where nearly half of Europeans reside. VREY's platform acts as a certified smart metering operator and billing partner, efficiently measuring individual tenant energy consumption from shared solar systems and managing the billing process. This integrated approach allows tenants to benefit from renewable energy without the hassle of switching providers, while property owners can future-proof their assets. VREY's solution is designed for scalability, currently managing a substantial number of projects across all German federal states, serving a diverse clientele including private landlords, housing cooperatives, and large real estate companies. Beyond solar distribution, the platform's "EnergyOS" capabilities extend to integrating batteries, heat pumps, and EV charging infrastructure, offering a comprehensive energy management system for multi-family buildings. With the fresh capital, VREY plans to expand its team and further enhance its platform, aiming to solidify its position in the multi-family segment and unlock further energy use cases, contributing to Europe's digital and sustainable energy future.