Société Economique Mixte

By project RENEWAT

Published on 21 March 2025

France

Limousin

LIMOGES

About this good practice

It is a unique structure bringing together two departments and public and private funding for regional renewable energy production projects.
There was unanimous agreement on this need in the energy transition working groups. Secondly, as the SDEC is part of the "Territoire d'énergie Nouvelle Aquitaine" regional agreement, discussions with our colleagues revealed that the Haute-Vienne energy union (SEHV) was engaged in an identical process of reflection and that pooling resources and projects would make the project more relevant.
So, to support this ambition and create a leverage effect by combining public and private funding for renewable energy production projects, the two unions in the Creuse and the Haute-Vienne have decided to pool their resources to create a strong regional dynamic. The philosophy behind this project is to pool resources for regional projects in partnership with local players. The aim is to produce the energy consumed locally and retain the benefits for the region.

Resources needed

Currently supporting a Managing Director, two technicians and a secretary.

Evidence of success

June 2021, the first project supported by élina was inaugurated and presented to the general public. The project is the Grand Guéret photovoltaic power plant, co-sponsored by élina (40%), EDF renouvelables (51%) and the Communauté d'agglomération du Grand Guéret (9%). This large-scale project covers 17 hectares of rehabilitated former industrial wasteland, with an installed capacity of 14.7 MWp, capable of covering the electricity consumption of around 3,250 inhabitants.

Potential for learning or transfer

élina was designed to encourage the most effective projects to come to fruition, thereby promoting a high-quality local energy transition, & designed to keep the economic spin-offs from these projects in the region. The structure is based on the legal requirements of French public bodies but similarities can be found across many European civil service structures. The need to create more dynamic bodies that can quickly adapt and implement effective financial solutions for the required energy transition is something that is necessary in all EU member states.