Regional Ecosystem 2: Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes and Grand Est
The regional authority, through its energy agency AURA-EE, supports the establishment of local energy communities in France, particularyl through the Centrales Villageoises (CV) model. Initiated in 2011, the program has facilitated the creation of over 70
local energy communities governed by citizens and involving more than 7,250
shareholders, among which 290 local authorities and 165 local businesses. ACV
provides a toolkit and support services covering legal, financial, technical,
and organizational aspects. To expand the program, the Association des
Centrales Villageoises (ACV) was established in 2018, acting as a One Stop Shop
for implementing the CV model, supported by AURA-EE and other regional
authorities and organizations. ACV offers technical support, develops new
services, and fosters innovation. Within the ECOEMPOWER project, AURA-EE and
ACV aim to enhance the One Stop Shop CV model by expanding services such as
financing, social engagement, and the development of new renewable energy
projects and business models. AURA-EE will focus on sharing its experience,
coordinating regional activities, and promoting project activities at the
national level, while ACV will lead the further development of the model,
accompany pilot sites, and facilitate replication in other regions.
The "Centrales Villageoises" is a pioneering initiative in France designed to engage citizens in local renewable energy companies. Originating from an experiment conducted across eight pilot sites between 2010 and 2014, spearheaded by the regional energy agency of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (today known as AURA-EE) and several regional nature parks in the Rhône-Alpes region, this initiative has evolved into the establishment of community-owned companies that developed and funded initial photovoltaic projects. Subsequently, the entire technical and legal framework was consolidated, allowing for the replication of the concept on other sites.
Unlike the other regions, France already had a mature citizen-energy network. In 2018, the Association Centrales Villageoises (ACV) was founded to support the ongoing development of the network. It has since evolved into a comprehensive "one-stop shop" in France, serving as both a physical and virtual center capable of providing technical, economic, and legal assistance to local authorities and citizen groups interested in implementing renewable energy projects. ECOEMPOWER strengthened its existing OSS rather than creating a new structure.
Activities included technical and organisational support for energy communities, training and webinars, networking, shared digital tools, dedicated community websites, online workspaces and assistance throughout renewable-energy project development.
The 3 pilot sites are:
Centrales
Villageoises Eau et Soleil du Lac
Eau et Soleil du Lac is a growing local energy community in Savoie Department, near Aix-les-Bains, following the Centrales Villageoises model. It is
a local cooperative company that brings together citizens, local municipalities,
and SMEs to carry out renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. It plans to develop: (I) a PV plant project, equipping public and private roofs with PV panels (expected size around 300 kW), and (II) a hydropower project with an estimated size of 200 kW in the coming years.
Centrales
Villageoises VercorSoleiL
VercorSoleiL is an established energy community in the Vercors region, operating 29 PV plants with over 120 local participants since 2015. They produce about 365 MWh/year and offer a local e-mobility service. Planning to expand, they aim to provide energy efficiency services, develop new PV and hydro projects, and engage more citizens through improved social outreach and participatory decision-making.
Centrales Villageoises de Vezouze-en-Piemont
Centrales Villageoises de Vezouze-en-Piemont, established in 2019, operates 10 PV plants (425 kW) across villages in the Community of Communes of Vezouze en Piémont in the Grand Est region. With over 80 local citizens, municipalities, and SMEs involved, they produce around 420 MWh/year. Currently, they're exploring investment opportunities in a 5 MW ground-based PV plant, requiring a tailored business model. Additionally, they plan to develop collective self-consumption in collaboration with local stakeholders, emphasizing citizen involvement, social aspects, and shared governance.
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One Stop Shop for Renewable Energy Communities
The Association
des Centrales Villageoises is a national, well-established OSS (One-Stop
Shop) that has been supporting the development of energy communities based on
the Centrales Villageoises model for over 10 years. The Centrales
Villageoises model follows a step-by-step approach, allowing citizen
collectives to develop projects progressively with the help of tools, shared
services, dedicated training, networking activities, and personalized support. Find more information at www.centralesvillageoises.fr.
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