France

Overall assessment

Only one region (Centre-Val de Loire) has set the objective of supporting Renewable Energy Communities (as per EU definitions) and  has implemented a dedicated programme to allocate funds   from the European Regional Development Fund to promote them.

However, at least 4 Regions support community energy (as per a broader definition) through the ERDF.

  • The Centre-Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire Grand-Est and Occitanie regions fund the regional community energy support networks through the ERDF. Even though RECs are not a specific objective in those ERDF programs they do support community energy in a very efficient way. These regional community energy support networks help share knowledge through peer-to-peer exchanges, building of best practices, and leapfrogging obstacles. This is particularly useful for creating new community energy projects.
  • Some regions use ERDF to support renewable energy projects, which could in theory benefit community energy projects. However, the funds are very complex to access and manage for community energy projects and  thus communities tend to not apply.

Detailed assessment

Specific allocation for energy communities

Only one region (Centre-Val de Loire) has set the objective of supporting Renewable Energy Communities (as per EU definitions) and has implemented a dedicated programme to allocate funds from the European Regional Development Fund to promote. 

However, 4 regions (Centre-Val de Loire, Pays de la Loire, Grand-Est and Occitanie) fund the regional community energy support networks through the ERDF. Even though RECs are not a specific objective in those ERDF programmes they do support community energy in a very efficient way. These regional community energy support networks help share knowledge through peer-to-peer exchanges, building of best practices, and leapfrogging obstacles. This is particularly useful for creating new community energy projects.

Definition of energy communities in line with EU legislation

The definition of energy communities that are eligible under the Centre-Val de Loire programme must be in line with the EU and French legislation. However, as the French definition is quite restrictive (see the REC & CEC definitions tracker), there might be few eligible candidates. 

Proportionality of share of total fund allocated to energy communities

This information is not available, as the total amount of funds allocated to energy communities across the different regional programs is not known.

Availability of tailored financing tools

Two types of financing tools are offered by the region Centre-Val de Loire programme: 

  • Grants to support feasibility studies. 
  • Grants to support investments that allow the project to emerge and operate, including connections and distribution infrastructure (only for installations without a regulated purchase tariff, feed-in premium or feed-in tariff). 

Some regions use ERDF to support renewable energy projects, which could in theory benefit community energy projects however they do not provide tailored financing tools for this specific type of projects. 

Link between energy communities, building renovation and energy efficiency

The Centre-Val de Loire programme only supports energy communities whose activity is the production of renewable energy. 

Recognition of energy communities under multiple objectives

The Centre-Val de Loire programme recognizes energy communities as key players in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and as an opportunity to develop local initiatives with various actors but does not mention other objectives (e.g., tackling energy poverty etc.).  

Holistic strategy to provide financing across different levels of project development

There is no holistic strategy to provide financing across different levels of project development through ERDF in the Centre-Val de Loire region. However, the region has also implemented other financing mechanisms to support citizen energy projects across the different stages of development such as the “1 citizen euro = 1 euro from the region” programme (funded directly by the State and the region) or an investment tool that can provide equity at the end of the development phase of a project. 

Transparency of the design and communication of the schemes and measures

The Centre-Val de Loire programme is available on the website of the region. Communication to prospective candidates was largely channelled by the community energy regional network.

Selection criteria and the prioritisation of various social components

There is no prioritisation of social components in the tender criteria for this fund. 

In the Centre-Val de Loire programme, support to feasibility studies is available to any member or shareholder of a renewable energy community and support to investment to any legal entity meeting the cumulative criteria that make it a renewable energy community or a citizen energy community. 

Decentralised tender process

The regions, as well as various local stakeholders, are able to provide important input in the design and management of the calls, responding to the local context needs.

Existence of procedures to facilitate the participation of energy communities in open calls

Only one local government applied to the Centre-Val de Loire programme. It can be explained by the lack of existing procedures to facilitate the participation of energy communities but also because the term “energy community” is still relatively unknown in France and the French definition is very restrictive. 

Stability and predictability of the programme through time

The process is too recent to draw definitive conclusions.