Solar is growing rapidly around the world. The technology works, costs have fallen dramatically, and renewable energy is now among the cheapest ways to build new electricity generation in many markets. IRENA reports that more than 90% of utility-scale renewable projects commissioned in 2025 produced electricity for less than the cheapest new fossil-fuel alternative in their market.
So why is actually owning solar still difficult for so many people?
That is what we mean when we talk about democratizing solar.
Solar is everywhere. Solar ownership isn't.
The Sun does not care whether you own a house, rent an apartment or live somewhere with poor weather. Traditional solar ownership does.
Normally, you need a suitable roof or land, enough money for an installation, permission to install it and the right local conditions. Even if you have all of that, eventually you run out of roof space. The problem is widely recognised: the U.S. EPA notes that shared solar can expand access for renters, people with shaded roofs and people who cannot install their own systems for financial or other reasons.
That means a huge number of people support solar but still have very limited opportunities to participate directly. We think that needs to change.
What does democratizing solar mean?
For Sunbucks, democratizing solar simply means allowing more people to participate.
You should not need to own a house, have the perfect roof or live somewhere extremely sunny. And you should not have to spend thousands buying a complete solar installation just to get started. With Sunbucks, you can start from just €2 for one solar cell. That makes the first step small and simple. You can see how Sunbucks works, understand what you own and then add more solar cells later if you choose.
That is the idea behind Sunbucks: lower the barriers and make solar ownership accessible to far more people.
Why start with a solar cell?
Technology has democratized many other industries. You no longer need to own a television station to publish a video, a newspaper to reach thousands of readers, or a physical shop to sell something around the world. Technology gave ordinary people access. Why should energy be completely different?
A solar panel is made up of individual solar cells. The cell is the part that actually converts sunlight into electricity. Read our solar cell explainer for the simple science behind it.
So instead of saying solar ownership has to start with an entire installation, Sunbucks asks a much simpler question: Why can't it start with one solar cell?
With Sunbucks, customers can buy individually identified solar cells and rent them back to Sunbucks under a rental agreement. You receive a unique cell ID, while Sunbucks manages the solar installation and rental process. The Sunbucks Solar Cell Rental Model explains this in more detail.
You can start small and add more solar cells later as they become available.
Put solar where solar works best.
Traditional rooftop solar ties your solar generation to where you happen to live. But the best place to live is not necessarily the best place to generate solar electricity.
World Bank solar-resource data shows that around 20% of the global population lives in countries with excellent solar PV conditions, and that many high-potential countries are in the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sunbucks prefers projects in strong solar regions, particularly within the world's Sunbelt, where stronger solar resources can help generate more electricity from the same solar equipment.
So someone living in Northern Europe can participate in solar located somewhere with much stronger sunshine. It is a simple idea: put solar where solar works best, rather than limiting it to where the owner happens to live. We explain the geography behind this in Why Geography Matters in Global Solar Energy.
Why does democratizing solar matter?
Because the transition away from fossil fuels needs to happen faster. The IEA expects global renewable power capacity to roughly double by 2030, with solar PV accounting for almost 80% of the increase.
That is enormous growth, but building technology is only one part of the challenge. We also need capital, suitable projects and more ways for people to participate.
If solar ownership remains mainly available to governments, utilities, large companies, landowners and homeowners with suitable roofs, we are limiting its potential. Democratizing solar means opening that opportunity to more people. The wider reason for accelerating this transition is explored in the Sunbucks blog, including our article “Can We Live Without Fossil Fuels?”
Small ownership can become big participation
One solar cell is obviously small. But that is the point. You do not need to start with an entire solar installation. You can start from €2, see how the model works and add more later.
If enough people can participate in that way, millions of small participants can collectively become something much bigger.
A renter should be able to participate. Someone in an apartment should be able to participate. Someone without a suitable roof should be able to participate. And someone who already has rooftop solar should not necessarily be limited by the size of that roof.
That is what democratizing solar means to us: removing barriers and giving more people a way to participate in the transition to clean energy.
FAQ
What does democratizing solar mean?
It means making solar ownership and participation accessible to more people rather than mainly those who own suitable property or can afford a complete solar installation.
How much does it cost to start with Sunbucks?
Sunbucks allows customers to start from €2 for one solar cell, making it possible to begin small and add more cells later.
Do I need a roof to participate with Sunbucks?
No. Sunbucks allows customers to own individually identified solar cells without installing panels on their own property.
Can I start small?
Yes. You can start with a small number of solar cells and add more later, subject to cell and project availability.
Why does Sunbucks prefer sunny locations?
Better solar resources generally allow the same solar equipment to generate more electricity. That is why Sunbucks prefers projects in strong solar regions, including Sunbelt locations. World Bank solar-resource data shows how significantly solar potential varies between countries.
Be part of democratizing solar
The Sun belongs to everyone. We believe the opportunity to participate in solar should be much closer to that idea.
You do not need the perfect roof, perfect weather or an entire solar installation. You can start from just €2 and grow your solar ownership over time.
Start small, add more when you choose and help make solar ownership accessible to more people.