Q ENERGY is starting a new chapter: project Ventajou governed and shared with local authorities

Montpellier, 12 December: Q ENERGY announces the entry of three local and civic stakeholders – the municipality of Sévérac d'Aveyron (30%), AREC Occitanie (12%) and Énergie Partagée (7%) – into the capital of the Ventajou wind farm project. This is the first time the company has opened up its capital, sending a clear message: to make citizens and local authorities true partners in designing a genuine regional project.

A partnership designed to involve local stakeholders in the governance and financing of the project in order to promote local benefits 

The partnership agreement signed strengthens the project's local roots by maximising the involvement of stakeholders directly affected by the development of such facilities from the design phase onwards. In particular, the agreement establishes shared governance and ambitious prior consultation, strengthening the role of local stakeholders in decisions affecting the entire life cycle of the project, from its creation to its operation.
 

Thanks to the Ventajou wind farm project, the region:

•    Participates in decisions,

•    Co-invests,

•    Receives a share of the value,

•    Reinvests the profits in projects that benefit residents.

The project has been awarded the Énergie Partagée label, guaranteeing its commitment to citizen-led and local energy. This quality label is the only one in the renewable energy sector that assesses the citizen-led approach of production projects on 15 detailed criteria across five key areas: regional interest, local dynamics, ethical and citizen-led finance, shared governance and ecology.

" This opening up of capital to local players is part of Q ENERGY's desire to embody its values of transparency, co-construction and value sharing. This choice reflects a strong conviction: electrification will only become a reality for our fellow citizens if it is driven by the regions themselves," says Guillaume Guémard, Wind Energy Director at Q ENERGY.
 

A project that is part of a proactive and ambitious local energy policy

The municipality's 30% stake is part of a long-standing dynamic. Sévérac d'Aveyron, which has been home to wind turbines since 2017 and is engaged in ongoing consultation with the Occitanie association Énergies Citoyennes Locales et Renouvelables (ECLR), has chosen to renew its confidence in wind power. Winner of the "New Citizen Energy Models" Call for Expressions of Interest launched by ADEME and the Occitanie Region, the municipality has also included this extension project in a Renewable Energy Production Acceleration Zone (ZAPER).  Aware of the impact of such a project beyond its borders, the municipality has been supported by the Region, and in particular its Regional Energy and Climate Agency (AREC), in designing a public/private project, sharing value and developing a legal and financial model that matches the region's ambitions.

"Supporting local authorities and enabling them to participate fully in a large-scale project alongside recognised industrial players is one of our agency's key missions. This is how we are making a concrete contribution to making Occitanie a Positive Energy Region," says Christian Assaf, President of AREC Occitanie.

The Ventajou wind farm, with an estimated total capacity of 16.4 MW, is a continuation of an initial wind farm in line with the plan for potential sites defined by the Grands Causses Regional Nature Park (PNR) charter, which prioritises the renewal and extension of existing wind farms. Commissioning is planned for 2030 and will cover the electricity consumption of 20,000 people, equivalent to the population of Millau. This project is fully in line with the national drive to increase the share of renewable energies to 32% of gross final energy consumption by 2030, as well as with the regional strategy of Occitanie, which aims to become an "energy-positive region" by 2050. 
"Wind power is an opportunity for our municipality. We are contributing to the national energy transition while generating local benefits that will finance projects for the direct benefit of our citizens for decades to come," explains Edmond Gros, Mayor of Sévérac d'Aveyron. 
 

About Q ENERGY France   

Q ENERGY is a major player in the renewable energy market in France. The company has been involved in the development, construction and operation of wind and solar power projects for over 25 years. Now also positioned in the energy storage market, Q ENERGY is continuing its expansion into new areas such as green hydrogen in order to offer intelligent and comprehensive solutions for the production and supply of sustainable energy in France. The company has nearly 300 employees and seven branches across the country, including its head office in Avignon. 

About AREC Occitanie

The Regional Energy and Climate Agency (AREC) develops solutions to encourage local authorities and businesses in Occitanie to take action and become Europe's first positive energy region by 2050. As a tool of the Occitanie region, the agency acts as a trusted third party serving the public interest. Its added value lies in its unique support across the entire energy transition value chain: from upstream to project implementation and financing. www.arec-occitanie.fr

About Energie Partagée

A national citizen energy movement, Énergie Partagée supports and finances citizen-led renewable energy projects. Led by citizen collectives and local authorities who control their governance, these projects bring economic benefits to their local areas.
Énergie Partagée created and awards the Énergie Partagée label. Supported by Ademe, it is the only quality label in the renewable energy sector. It assesses the citizen-led approach of candidate projects on 15 detailed criteria across five key areas: regional interest, local dynamics, ethical and citizen-led finance, shared governance, and ecology. energie-partagee.org/label
Recognised as a socially responsible company and certified by Finansol, Énergie Partagée is also an investment tool that supports citizen-led renewable energy projects by investing the savings of more than 7,500 citizen shareholders. Since its creation in 2010, Énergie Partagée has committed €48.6 million to 172 projects, some of which are under development or under construction.
More info: www.energie-partagee.org