European perceptions on crowdfunding for renewables: Positivity and pragmatism

•Funding for renewables has been cut across Europe in the years since the financial crisis.•Crowdfunding models share a societal ethos with proponents of investment in renewables.•Positive attitudes are shown to be widespread regarding crowdfunding's potential to support renewables.•The evidence suggests that both emotional and pragmatic (experiential) factors underpin this pattern.