Frequently Asked Questions

Crowdinvesting works by pooling capital from many investors to fund solar projects. You invest as little as €100 in a project, and as that project generates revenue from selling electricity, the entrepreneur repays the loan with interest. Your returns come from the interest payments on the loan you funded.

This model benefits everyone: entrepreneurs get affordable financing without taking on traditional debt, investors earn competitive returns, and communities gain access to clean, reliable electricity.

Getting started is simple:

1. Create an account on our platform and verify your identity
2. Complete our simple investor questionnaire (takes 5 minutes)
3. Browse available solar projects with full details and risk assessments
4. Choose a project and invest (minimum €100 per project)
5. Start receiving monthly returns as loans are repaid

The entire process takes less than an hour, and you can start investing immediately.

Safety is our highest priority. Here's how we protect your investment:

• Rigorous Vetting: Every project is independently assessed before reaching our platform
• Insurance Coverage: Solar equipment is insured against failure and damage
• Legal Contracts: Loans are secured with legal agreements and collateral
• Diversification: We recommend spreading investments across multiple projects to reduce risk
• Regular Monitoring: We track every project's performance and financial health

Like all investments, solar projects carry risk. Returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose part or all of your investment. However, our track record shows a default rate of less than 2% across our portfolio.

Our current portfolio averages 8.5% annual returns, significantly higher than traditional savings accounts. However, returns vary by project based on:

• Project Risk: Lower-risk projects have lower returns (6-8%), higher-risk projects offer higher returns (9-12%)
• Loan Term: Shorter-term projects typically offer lower returns
• Entrepreneur Viability: More established entrepreneurs can offer competitive rates
• Market Conditions: Interest rates vary based on local market conditions

Each project page clearly shows the expected return rate, term, and risk classification so you can make informed decisions.

We believe in transparent, simple pricing:

• Investor Service Fee: 2% of your returns (you keep 98% of what you earn)
• Transaction Fee: €0 – there are no hidden fees when investing or withdrawing
• Account Fee: €0 – maintaining your account is completely free

That's it. We only profit when you profit, which aligns our interests perfectly. No hidden fees, no surprise charges.

Our platform provides complete transparency into your portfolio:

• Live Dashboard: View all your investments, current balance, and projected returns
• Project Updates: Receive monthly updates on project performance and energy production
• Payment Tracking: See exactly when payments are scheduled and what you've received
• Impact Metrics: Track how much CO₂ you've helped avoid and how many people gained electricity access
• Reports: Download annual statements and tax documentation for your records

All data is accessible 24/7 through our mobile app or web platform.

Yes, but with important considerations:

• Withdrawal Timeline: You can always withdraw payments you've received, without penalty
• Active Investments: Once you've invested in a project, your capital is committed for the loan term (typically 3-7 years)
• Secondary Market: We're building a secondary market where you can sell active investments to other investors before maturity
• Early Withdrawal Option: For a small fee (2-5%), we can facilitate early withdrawal in some cases

We encourage long-term investing to maximize your returns and support project completion, but we understand that circumstances change.

We finance a variety of solar installations, including:

• Mini-grid Systems: Community-scale systems serving 50-500 households
• Commercial Solar: Rooftop installations on shops, schools, and businesses
• Agricultural Solar: Systems powering irrigation, cold storage, and processing
• Off-grid Home Systems: Residential solar installations in areas without grid access
• Solar + Storage: Combined systems with battery storage for 24/7 power

All projects are located in emerging markets (Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia) where there's high demand for reliable electricity and proven returns.

Trine operates with full regulatory compliance:

• Crowdfunding License: Licensed as a crowdfunding platform in the EU
• Financial Regulation: Subject to ESMA and national regulatory oversight
• Know Your Customer (KYC): Full identity verification and compliance checks
• Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Comprehensive AML procedures and monitoring
• Data Protection: GDPR compliant with bank-grade security

Your capital is held in a segregated client account separate from Trine's operations, protecting your funds even in unlikely circumstances.

Most adult individuals can invest with Trine. We accept investors from:

• All EU member countries
• UK
• Selected other countries (check our eligibility guide)

Minimum requirements:

• 18 years or older
• Valid government-issued ID
• Minimum investment of €100

Institutional investors (companies, foundations, funds) are also welcome. Contact our sales team for details.