Sustainable investing in 10 questions

Interview with Julien Hostache, President and co-founder of Enerfip

What is your personal definition of sustainable investing?

Sustainable investing isn't just a way to feel good about yourself. It's much more than that! It's a real lever for action that allows everyone, at their own level, to act on what they believe is necessary in the world around them. It's a tool for influencing things in a direction that we consider virtuous. In this sense, sustainable investment is a way for investors, savers, and citizens to have a positive impact and actively participate in the transitions we need to make.

How is this vision reflected in Enerfip's actions?

At Enerfip, this vision is reflected in our desire to make sustainable investment accessible to all. With an entry ticket starting at 10 euros, everyone can invest part of their savings in concrete and meaningful projects: renewable energy production, energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, or even “nature-based solutions” projects (solutions based on nature, e.g., reforestation). This accessibility reflects our deep conviction: everyone can become an agent of change and contribute to a more sustainable future thanks to the tools we offer.

What prompted you to co-found Enerfip, and what was the main need you wanted to address?

First of all, there was a philosophical dimension that prompted us to co-found Enerfip. Wind, sun, and water are common goods, belonging to everyone by definition. Harnessing these resources to produce energy therefore makes perfect sense, especially when the direct economic benefits benefit citizens. This is one of Enerfip's founding principles.

Furthermore, when we were developing renewable energy projects before the creation of Enerfip, we observed in the areas where we traveled a strong appetite among residents to participate in emerging projects close to home. This dynamic clearly illustrates the DNA of the energy transition: a natural and implicit link between these virtuous projects and civil society. Enerfip was born to become this channel that connects these two worlds, allowing this civic energy to fully express itself.

“By investing your money in Enerfip, you can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 10 times.”

How have you seen the concept of sustainable investment evolve since Enerfip's creation until today?

For a time, the term “sustainable investment” was overused, and its promise was often betrayed by certain practices. I'm thinking in particular of SRI funds, which, at one time, were far from embodying the original spirit of sustainable investment, with undemanding criteria. Fortunately, initiatives like crowdfunding—what we do at Enerfip—have helped restore legitimacy, values, and coherence to sustainable investing. We've helped anchor this concept in an approach more aligned with its initial ambitions. This evolution has also been supported by a more rigorous regulatory framework, driven by political demands. For example, Article 9 of the SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation = Regulation on the publication of sustainability-related information in the financial services sector, established by the European Union) was a major turning point. This type of regulation is essential to fully enter the world of sustainable investing, without pretense or greenwashing.

Today, we can welcome these advances, which contribute to a collective awareness. Sustainable investment is finally beginning to take hold in its most sincere and ambitious definition.

In your opinion, what role can each citizen play in the energy transition through sustainable investment?

This question is essential if we want to raise real awareness. To begin with, we must look at the scale of French savings: more than6,000 billion euros. This figure demonstrates the extent to which we have, collectively, a gigantic lever to accelerate and achieve the energy transition. If we refer to the report by Jean Pisani-Ferry and Selma Mahfouz, which estimates that an additional 70 to 80 billion euros should be invested each year in France, this amount is not out of reach: annually, the French “set aside” more than 100 billion euros! It is therefore crucial that everyone becomes aware of this immense armed force at our disposal. Investing in the energy transition is not a simple symbolic gesture, like a drop of water in the face of a fire. It's much more powerful than that!

How does Enerfip highlight the impact of sustainable investing?

We seek to make this impact concrete, tangible, and measurable. To do this, in the investor area of ​​our platform, a carbon calculator allows you to visualize the effects of each investment. For each amount invested, whether 10, 1,000, 10,000 euros, or more, we indicate how much energy you help produce each year and we put this figure into perspective with your average overall energy needs in France. In addition, we measure the impact in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. If your savings remain in a traditional bank, they often contribute to CO2-emitting activities. On the other hand, by placing your money with Enerfip, you can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 10 times.

Everyone's role in the energy transition is therefore much more significant than it seems. Our mission is to make everyone aware of this capacity to act, which can really change things.

What are the biggest challenges faced by Enerfip in promoting a sustainable economic model?

One ​​of the biggest challenges we face is showing that it's feasible! We live in a very anxiety-provoking and negative environment: whether on the radio, television, social media, or in the press, we are constantly bombarded with pessimistic messages. At Enerfip, we want to reverse this dynamic. We want to make people understand that changing our energy model is entirely possible, starting today, with the techniques and resources at our disposal. This is not a utopia: it's concrete, realistic, and within reach!

To meet this challenge, information and education are essential. This is precisely what this white paper proposes: breaking down preconceived ideas and relying on tangible facts and reliable data, provided by scientists and experts. The objective is clear: to demonstrate that this transition is not only achievable, but that it concerns each and every one of us.

“Sustainable investment is finally beginning to take hold in its most sincere and ambitious definition.”

Can you share a concrete project via Enerfip that has had a significant impact on the regions?

It's not easy to choose, because there are so many notable projects, but I'm still thinking of the Yeu-Noirmoutier offshore wind project, especially for its symbolism. It's one of the very first French offshore wind projects. We were commissioned to raise €1 million from residents of the departments concerned and the region.

This project particularly struck me for its impact and the discussions it generated.

I particularly remember a meeting we held in Noirmoutier. A woman challenged us very violently, accusing us of “killing the landscape.” Immediately afterward, a gentleman, accompanied by his little boy, spoke. As a “child of the island,” he explained that he fully supported this project. This contrast clearly illustrates the debates these initiatives generate: they offer a region the opportunity to progress in its energy transition while also arousing strong emotions. This episode struck me because it gives meaning to what we do!

Why is it important to make sustainable finance accessible and understandable to everyone?

I realize today how crucial finance is as a field for which we receive relatively little training in our educational backgrounds. Having not studied in this field, I realize that this gap is a real disadvantage, because finance is omnipresent in our lives. It influences our daily lives, and it is regrettable to leave it exclusively in the hands of a few, who do not always make the best choices, in my opinion.

This is why the responsible finance we propose is so important. It must be democratized, made understandable, and accessible to all. Especially since finance, contrary to what one might believe, is not that complicated. Some may seek to complicate it, but the basic mechanisms and tools are within everyone's reach! The more people master these concepts, the more they will be able to debate and make informed investment choices in line with their values.

It's a key societal issue so that everyone can regain control over their financial decisions and contribute, at their own level, to projects that have a truly positive impact.

What are the next major objectives for Enerfip in the years to come?

Our ambition is to contribute to the construction of a fluid and functional European market, as desired by Mario Draghi in his latest report. Concretely, this means becoming a key tool to promote the development and success of the energy transition on a European scale. When you look at the figures, the potential is immense: Europe represents€35 trillion in savings, and more than €1.2 trillion is added to this sum each year by Europeans. These colossal resources are perfectly aligned with the massive investment needs required for the energy transition.

Our goal is clear: to democratize investment in energy projects and allow everyone, regardless of their location, to invest in virtuous projects located in Europe. We want to do this in a simple, efficient, and transparent manner, while concretely demonstrating the positive impacts of these investments. The more people can see and understand the concrete results of their contribution, the more motivating and unifying it becomes. It is by making this impact visible that we encourage everyone to make a lasting commitment to this transition.

As president, what personally motivates you to continue to lead this project and defend these values?

What motivates me, and which is one of our company's leitmotifs, is to develop our business while fulfilling ourselves as citizens. This is a powerful driving force, especially in a context where inaction is no longer possible. We cannot afford to remain passive!

“Our objective is clear: to democratize investment in energy projects.”

What message would you like to convey to readers to encourage them to join the sustainable investment movement?

We can act now; it's entirely possible, entirely feasible! We have the opportunity and the responsibility to transform our daily choices into meaningful actions for the future. Every decision, every action counts, and together, we have the power to redirect our trajectory toward a more sustainable world. Don't listen to the cynics or the pessimists: their prophecy is self-fulfilling only if we let them convince us.

At Enerfip, we offer the opportunity to move from words to action. We provide you with a concrete tool to become a player in the energy transition, to support projects that have a real and measurable impact. Each investment, each project financed is one more step toward a more environmentally friendly energy model.