Energy transition: citizens and territories want to accelerate

The public debate on the direction of French energy policy has concluded. After three months of consultations, the final one was held on Thursday, June 28, in Paris at the headquarters of the La Française group. The NGO Green Cross France brought together numerous energy stakeholders, community representatives, and financiers before an informed audience.

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"There is no questioning of the energy transition; the debate is more about the pace. Overall, the country considers that we are behind schedule." " A few hours before the end of an unprecedented consultation, Florent Augagneur, vice-president of the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP), shares the initial findings from the hundred or so debates organized since March across all regions. The issue of financing was particularly highlighted. "Who pays? The issue is important and will continue to be so, if only for acceptability. If we implement public policies, we will have to answer these questions," adds Florent Augagneur. Public debates have also highlighted demands on governance issues. "More democracy, more decentralization, and more space for citizens and territories are emerging," confides the vice-president of the CNDP. The first universal climate agreement, the Paris Agreement, aims to contain global warming to "well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels" by 2100. From this perspective, studies on a 100% renewable energy scenario reveal one certainty. "We cannot achieve 100% renewable energy in France without a significant energy efficiency policy," recalls Michel Gioria, Île-de-France director of ADEME[1]. The good news is that energy savings also make a project economically viable. The example of the future smart city of Dijon Métropole illustrates this. "The project will enable energy savings of around 62%, mainly on public lighting, and it is these savings that will finance a large part of the infrastructure over time," says the CEO of Citelum, an EDF subsidiary specializing in energy efficiency.

The Dunkirk model

"Dunkirk is the Qatar of fatal heat[2]" likes to point out Rizlane Bibaoui, director of attractiveness for the urban community. Arcelor Mittal's first waste heat captures for the city's network date back to 1983. At the forefront of the energy transition, the urban area has just seen its work supporting industries recognized by the State. It is no coincidence that the city will host the 20th edition of the European Energy Transition Conference next January. "It's almost a question of survival for the region," whose demographic decline is closely linked to its economic structure and its industries, which are extremely reliant on carbon-based energy. "We have no other choice but to be in an inclusive and sustainable transition," declares Rizlane Bibaoui.

Multi-energy and pragmatic gas

The commitment of the territories in the energy transition is seen as a necessity by the CEO of GRTgaz. "We will only succeed in the energy transition if we do it for the territories, by the territories, and if it is economically sustainable," specifies Thierry Trouvé. In the vision of a multi-energy transition, alongside electricity and the heating network, "gas plays an important role because it is sustainable and lasting." Sustainable, because it is one of the ways to make rapid progress on air pollution. It can be significantly reduced by introducing natural gas into heavy and maritime transport. Sustainable, because renewable gas is booming. Methanization should notably make it possible to reach 30% renewable gas consumption by 2030. Local, it is carbon neutral, provides income for agriculture and employment in the countryside.

What about citizen crowdfunding?

The role of citizens in financing the energy transition is also being questioned. "I think that when it comes to financing, we must not rule out any initiative," assures the strategy director of GRDF, a subsidiary of Engie. "The restrictions on public aid are there, and it's also good to be innovative. I think these types of approaches have the virtue of involving citizens and giving them a direct interest in the success of the project. This can also contribute to the acceptability of projects," emphasizes Catherine Leboul Proust. Present at the debate, the former director general of the World Bank also believes in the power of citizen and local savings. Founder of the investment fund Blue Like an Orange Sustainable, Bertrand Badré is working towards greater private sector involvement in sustainable development goals. To meet the needs posed by the energy transition, one thing is certain, he explains: "we must succeed in changing scale."

Cyrille Arnoux, web editorial manager

[1] The Environment and Energy Management Agency

[2] By waste heat, we mean the production of heat derived from a production site, which is not its primary purpose.