In the paper, the author gives an overview of the number, regional distribution and structure of energy cooperatives in Germany. The number of energy cooperatives has increased significantly since 2008. Regional concentrations can be found in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony (esp. the Weser-Ems region). The legal status of a registered cooperative is mainly used to open up an investment opportunity for people who can or want to invest only smaller sums between 500 and 2,000 Euros. As such energy cooperatives function – from a pure financial perspective – as intermediaries and vehicles for joint investments by non-High Net Worth Individuals. They contribute to overcome indivisibilities. The choice of legal structure obviously depends on regional role models and impulses by certain facilitators. Cooperative community energy companies mainly build photovoltaics installations on public buildings. Additional activities may be developed in the areas of wind energy, where the acquisition of projects forms a major hurdle though, and regional distribution of electricity produced in the powerplants owned by the cooperatives. Changes in renewable energy laws since 2012 and the introduction of the Investment Code have led to a drop in numbers of new foundations of community energy cooperatives. A certain medium-term consolidation of the sector is likely.