Cleanwatts / 100 Aldeias

Cleanwatts is a Portuguese climate-tech company whose mission is to decentralize, digitalize, and democratize access to clean energy. The company invests in, develops, and operates distributed solar power plants at client facilities, allowing organizations to consume renewable energy with zero upfront investment and predictable long-term costs. Through its Energy Communities model, Cleanwatts enables locally generated renewable energy to be shared among nearby businesses, organizations, and individual consumers, creating economic, environmental, and social value for communities. A pioneer of this model in Portugal, Cleanwatts launched the country's first energy community in Miranda do Douro in 2021, marking the start of its flagship '100 Aldeias' (100 Villages) project. The initiative aims to establish energy communities in rural villages throughout Portugal, combining solar generation with intelligent energy management and shared surplus distribution among community members. The project has been developed in collaboration with About the Energy and received IIES certification from Portugal Inovação Social, and has since surpassed its original goal, growing to more than 140 energy communities nationwide. Cleanwatts positions itself as an 'Operating System' partner for the creation and management of renewable energy communities, combining proprietary technology, financial capital, and management resources to handle the full complexity of setting up and running these communities. Villages, companies, and individual consumers can participate either as energy producers—hosting new community installations—or as consumers benefiting from more competitive and stable energy prices. The company's broader goal is to make clean energy cheaper and more accessible, strengthen energy security, and contribute to the decarbonization of the planet.