Under the 2019 Energy and Climate Law, France aims to reach a 33% share of renewable energy in its gross final energy consumption by 2030. However, today, renewables represent only 19.1% of final energy consumption. To accelerate the development of renewable energy in the energy mix, businesses have a key role to play. Discover what that role is in this article by Powesco!
What green energy sources can be produced in a company?
Tertiary sector companies, like industries, can produce the main types of renewable energy.
Photovoltaic solar energy in the workplace
More and more companies are equipping themselves with solar panels in order to produce their own green electricity.
The installations can be carried out:
- on the roof : as part of self-consumption total or partial ;
- on the ground : to make use of an unexploited land area;
- on parking lots : these are called photovoltaic canopies;
- on water : via solar power plants floating on a natural or artificial water source.
The development of photovoltaics in businesses is explained in particular by the increasing number of regulations for these companies:
- The Climate and Resilience Law of 2021 : requires new buildings over 500 m2 to install a renewable energy production system or to have 30% ;
- The law for accelerating renewable energy production (APER): obliges companies with a parking lot of more than 1500 m2 to install photovoltaic canopies on at least 50% of the surface area of their parking areas.
Need to bring your business into compliance with the law? Powesco handles all photovoltaic projects with a capacity exceeding 100 kWp and takes care of all the administrative procedures:
- study , planning permissions, certificate of conformity;
- funding requests ;
- maintenance contract etc.
Geothermal energy in business
Companies wishing to commit to the energy transition can also turn to geothermal energy. This is a technique that allows the production of renewable energy through the recovery and use of heat extracted from the subsoil.
Among the heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems that operate using geothermal energy, there is the heat pump: equipment that simultaneously heat and air conditioning using calories naturally present underground.
This type of machine is particularly used in the following sectors:
- hospitals : for the production of hot water or the renewal of air;
- hoteliers : to operate cold storage rooms and provide ambient heating;
- in commercial spaces : same.
Enerlis is the preferred partner for your heat pump/refrigeration project:
- Our consulting firm Esope conducts an audit for your company;
- Powesco experts carry out the work for the installation;
- measure the savings achieved through our Energy Management System (EMS).
Hydropower for communities
Renewable energies are not the sole domain of businesses. Local authorities can also contribute to the decarbonization of the energy mix through the development of hydroelectric power in their area.
Hydropower is the leading source of renewable electricity in France. It involves using the driving force of waterways via dams (large-scale hydropower, with a power output greater than 10 MW) or watermills (small-scale hydropower for power outputs less than 10 MW) to produce green electricity.
For local communities, hydroelectric power offers only advantages:
- creation of local jobs ;
- generation of new sources of tax revenue ;
- territorial attractiveness ;
- maintaining balance on the electrical grid;
Is the watermill in your town abandoned? Call on Icauna, the subsidiary of the Enerlis group, specialist in small hydropower (PHE) for its renovation, partner of Powesco.
Why invest in renewable energy for businesses?
There are many reasons to get involved in renewable energy in business.
To comply with the law by adopting green energy
As explained above, numerous regulations require companies to integrate more green energy into their operations: the 2019 Energy and Climate Law, the Climate and Resilience Law, and the law relating to the acceleration of renewable energy production. Investing in photovoltaic panels therefore allows companies to comply with current regulations.
Breaking free from dependence on fossil fuels in business
Fossil fuels like natural gas and heating oil are limited resources because they are not renewable. When demand for these fuels surges, linked to a geopolitical event such as the war in Ukraine, their prices skyrocket on wholesale markets. Businesses that continue to consume them are dependent on these price fluctuations . By producing your own electricity, you control your energy supply and regain control over your costs.
Energy savings and renewable energy in business
HVAC systems powered by renewable energy are more efficient than those powered by fossil fuels. For example, according to ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), a heat pump produces on average four times more heat than it consumes in electricity. Installing a heat pump, a type of reversible heat pump, therefore allows for a significant reduction in energy consumption in businesses.
Improve your carbon footprint
Another advantage of renewable energies lies in their environmental. Unlike fossil fuels, which significantly increasecarbon footprint , green energies emit very little greenhouse gas during their production. By choosing to invest in this sector, you are making a virtuous.
Powesco helps you define your climate strategy by conducting a carbon footprint assessment, implementing an action plan, and providing support for change management.
How to implement renewable energy production in your company?
Here are the steps to follow to produce greener energy in your business.
Conduct an energy and technical audit of the buildings
This is the first essential step for any company wishing to begin its energy transition.
An energy audit is a document produced by an accredited body that provides information on consumption and offers recommendations to optimize energy efficiency.
Although the services vary depending on the listeners, here are the most common:
- inventory of existing conditions: equipment, their condition;
- analysis of potential malfunctions;
- recommendations for improvement;
- concrete action plan ;
- Cost estimate for the work.
Powesco includes a design office authorized to carry out audits.
Implement the work
Following the recommendations from the energy audit, the company can begin the energy renovation work:
- installation of photovoltaic panels ;
- renovation of a small hydroelectric power plant;
- HVAC modernization ;
Here again, Powesco supports throughout your project: drafting specifications, organizing site meetings, conducting site acceptance visits, etc.
Funding the purchase of equipment powered by renewable energy
Certain projects enabling companies to produce renewable energy can be financed through various mechanisms, the best known of which are:
- the buyback rates by the State for surplus photovoltaic production;
- energy bonuses from the Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) scheme.
Powesco, in partnership with a leading financial player, also offers you a performance guarantee contract, in which it finances and carries out all the work, taking remuneration from a portion of the energy savings it has generated.
