Valénergies, a leading player in energy transition

David Raguet, can we start by talking about the history and main aims of your company, which in the early days was not called Valénergies but Valsolar?

It was indeed and today we are writing a second page in the history of Valénergies. Since I joined the company four years ago, Valénergies' objective and strategy have been to become an independent renewable energy producer, with a strong growth strategy. We're doing this in two segments: self-consumption, where we were forerunners and which was already in Valénergies' DNA and power stations connected to the Enedis network, into which we inject kilowatt hours.

Valsolar and then Valénergies have carried out numerous installations in Sophia Antipolis. I'm thinking in particular of the one at SAP Labs France, which had specific needs for recharging its impressive fleet of electric vehicles. How did you help them in practical terms?

We developed this self-consumption plant with the aim of meeting all their needs: powering their charging points as well as their offices. We proceeded in the same way as with each of our customers, by first assessing their needs and their consumption profile throughout the year. This was even before looking at where we were going to install our solar panels. After this analysis, we sized our power plant to best meet their electricity needs. What's more, we supported them throughout the entire project, from the administrative formalities to the connection. In fact, we deliver turnkey projects to our customers.

Can you tell us about some of the other notable facilities you have built at the technology park?

In Sophia, we recently commissioned an attractive self-consumption power plant for the EURECOM engineering school. The plant includes a rooftop installation and a car park shade structure, to which we have added a number of charging points for electric cars and bicycles. We have also carried out installations on Valimmo Group buildings, notably the SymphonIA and WTC projects.

Solar power plants and self-consumption

One of the main aims of the solutions you offer companies is to ensure that they consume their own energy. What are the advantages of self-consumption?

There are several, but for me the economic aspect comes first. A company that launches a solar power plant obviously has an energy transition approach, but the first criterion is economic. Today, we are offering our customers the opportunity to cover part of their needs with our power plant, but also to pay a lower kWh at a fixed price for the duration of the contract.

To implement this self-consumption, you have developed a solution called Ellybox. What does it involve?

The Ellybox offer is based on what I've just said about green energy, a lower price and a fixed price. It is also unique in that the customer does not have to finance the power plant. We are the ones who finance the project by investing in the plant. We then make it available to the customer, providing maintenance and earning a return on the cost of the energy we sell to the customer.

The growing share of grid-connected power plants

In addition to self-consumption, you also offer solutions where the main objective is to sell electricity back to the grid. What type of business is this particularly relevant to?

These are companies that have land or fairly large roofs available, but who don't have the profile for self-consumption. We offer them the chance to make the most of their buildings by installing power plants that will be connected to the grid. We rent their roof space to install a power plant. This part of our business is growing fast. For example, we have just finalised bank financing for the construction of 35 power plants, 75% of which are for the full resale of electricity and 25% for self-consumption.

A strategy that is bearing fruit

Four years ago, when you took the helm at Valénergies, you set yourself the goal of expanding the company rapidly throughout France. What is the initial assessment of this strategy today?

The balance sheet is clearly positive. We began by reorganising the company to adapt it to the growth we were expecting. We've moved to larger premises and we've restructured at every level. We also tripled our workforce to 30 this year. Then we expanded our projects, increasing them five or six-fold. We now have between 35 and 40 megawatts of signed projects that we will be building over the coming months. So we're heading in the right direction.

To further increase Valénergies' business, you are also banking on expanding your offering. In what direction?

A year ago, we launched a range of photovoltaic hangars and riding arenas. We offer to build and make available, free of charge, hangars of various sizes (from 1,000 m² to 3,000 m²). In return, we install a solar power plant on the roof, which we operate for 30 years.

What are your medium-term development objectives?

Our target was to have 100 megawatts of projects in operation. Today, we already have 38 in our portfolio, and we're sticking to our roadmap. However, we are currently reworking it to give us new perspectives. While retaining a regional presence, we are now focusing on a national roll-out, with facilities throughout France. We're also working on collective self-consumption projects. This is an area that used to be very complicated from a regulatory point of view but is now becoming simpler. So there's an interest in returning to this sector with a plant that could supply electricity to several consumers whose needs may well be complementary.

The role of solar power in energy transition

At a time when the energy transition is more topical than ever, do you think that solar energy has an important role to play in France?

In my opinion, solar power is the main card to play in France if we are to make a success of energy transition. First of all, solar energy has recently become very competitive, even in regions that don't get much sunshine. What's more, it's the easiest and quickest form of energy to install. There are thousands and thousands of square metres available, both on the roof and on the ground. Of course, there are rules to comply with, but the potential is enormous.

The Côte d'Azur is one of the sunniest regions in France. Do you think it's not exploiting its solar energy potential enough?

Just because our region has a lot of sunshine doesn't mean we can put solar panels everywhere. We'd like to, but it's not that simple. Apart from the rules that have to be respected, not all the roofs on the Côte d'Azur can be used because the buildings of the time were not prepared for solar panels. We have a lot of projects in the region, but they mainly concern new buildings. In this field, there is a real need to cover as much surface area as possible and it is absolutely essential that buildings are ready to receive photovoltaic panels from the outset.