What is the status of renewable energy supply in France?

Did you know?
Since 2007, you can freely choose your gas and electricity supplier from a wide variety of providers.

In France, changing energy supplier is free, without commitment, and above all, without disconnection. This is a common operation made possible thanks to the sharing of a single electricity and gas network. So, which offer should you choose? Classic, green, indexed to Regulated Sales Tariffs… There are a multitude of them! In partnership with ilek, the green, local, and positive energy supplier, we explain how to align your investments with Enerfip and your home energy consumption by choosing a renewable supply offer.

What renewable energies are available in France?

To contribute to sustainable development, France has specialized, over the years, in several renewable energies, which today make up a significant part of its energy mix. What does that mean? For electricity, these are mainly hydroelectric, wind, and photovoltaic energy.

Key figures
In 2022, according to RTE, electricity production in France was distributed as follows:

– 64.8% nuclear electricity;
– 26.5% renewable electricity (11.9% hydroelectricity, 10.2% onshore wind, 4.3% photovoltaic, and 2.1% renewable thermal).
– 6.1 % of fossil gas;
– 0.6% of coal and fuel oil.

For gas, the production of green gas via the agricultural and industrial methanization process in particular, is increasingly widespread in our region.

Key figures

According to GRDF, 652 sites will be injecting green gas throughout France in December 2023. This represents the equivalent of 3 million homes supplied with renewable, French gas.

→ And to better understand this concept of renewable energy, you can also

.

You want to change supplier and directly support the growth of the French renewable mix? We recommend our partner ilek!

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How can I be sure that my energy is truly green?

In France, 70% of offers electricity bear the green electricity label. To clarify this and help consumers make an informed choice, Ademe (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) has created a Vert Volt label.

What is the Vert Volt label?

First, let's look at how a green electricity offer works.

• What does it mean to be a residential energy supplier? It means marketing an energy offer to individual customers.
• What is special about this offer? Traceability of energy production and consumption is required at the European level and regulated by a system of certificates called Guarantees of Origin.
• How does it work? This system is managed by a European organizing authority and allows each renewable energy producer in Europe to issue certificates based on the quantity of electricity produced at their facility.

1 mWh of energy produced = 1 certificate.

A producer therefore markets two products.

• electrons: these can be sold directly to a supplier or on a European free market.
• Guarantees of Origin certificates: these can be sold to electricity suppliers in their own country or in other European countries.

A controlled model, but not necessarily clear for the end consumer.

It is possible for suppliers to purchase only the Guarantee of Origin certificates, without ever purchasing the electrons. This is why Ademe offers a label for suppliers who pay French energy producers a fair price through a joint purchase of the Guarantee of Origin and electrons.

What are the Vert Volt label criteria?

To obtain the VertVolt label, the electricity supplier must demonstrate, each month, that it purchases a quantity of electrons and Guarantees of Origin equivalent to that which it sells to its customers; and this from French producers of renewable energy.

There are 2 levels of certification.

• Committed choice:for offers that include a direct purchase of the electron and the Guarantee of Origin.
• Very committed choice: for offers that meet this first condition and that of having at least 25% of the electricity coming from installations set up by local authorities with shared governance (as part of citizen projects, etc.) or by other actors, but without public support.

To help consumers easily compare green electricity offers, this label requires the communication of several pieces of information:

• the origin of the electricity sold (technology + place of production);
• the use or not of nuclear electricity production;
• the composition of purchases from producers;
• the proportion of the supplier's customers having subscribed to an offer labeled.

Did you know?
The label requires suppliers to play an active role in raising consumer awareness about energy savings. The greenest energy is the one we don't consume!

→ This is the case for ilek, a French renewable energy supplier with the Vert Volt label and a partner of Enerfip.

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Why change your energy supplier for a renewable offer?

Does the concept of individual carbon impact mean anything to you? Ademe promotes the transition to green energy as one of the key actions to reduce one's carbon impact, and therefore one's weight on the planetary system as an individual. Where fossil fuels generate pollution and CO2 in the atmosphere, renewable energies (RE) make it possible to produce energy in quantity, without jeopardizing the balance of ecosystems. Choosing a renewable, French energy offer means contributing to this virtuous system.

ilek's figures
In 2022, ilek will recover the equivalent of 80,000 tonnes of CO2 that have been avoided thanks to the choices of its customers.

How does changing energy supplier work?

In France, two main factors can lead a household to change energy supplier (for a green offer, of course):

• moving or moving into a new home;
• a desire to choose an offer more in line with their needs or values.

Did you know?
In France, legislation promotes freedom of movement from one supplier to another for individuals. What does this mean? Energy contracts never include a long-term commitment. Migrating to a different supplier is free. Your new supplier will be responsible for canceling your previous energy contract.

How to change your energy contract?

1. Contact a supplier with:
   1. your meter number (PDL for electricity or PCE for gas)
   2. your meter reading (if your meter is not communicating)
   3. your RIB.
2. Plan ahead as much as possible: you can choose the date you want your contract to start with your new supplier. However, depending on the type of meter you have, the timeframe for changing suppliers may vary.
3. Take it easy, your supplier will take care of everything! As soon as you have signed your new contract, your new supplier will request its activation from the network manager (Enedis for electricity or GRDF for gas), which will automatically terminate your old supplier's contract.

Adopting new habits can be a challenge, but every small daily action counts for the future of our planet. Among other actions that can have a significant impact on the world of tomorrow, sustainable investment is crucial. By directing your investments towards positive and environmentally friendly initiatives, you actively contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of your savings.

If you would like to know more about our crowdfunding platform dedicated to the energy transition, don't hesitate to make an appointment with our Investor Relations team now!