Local energy communities - How Ile d'Yeu experimented

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Erik Orsenna 

Today, we have a date with heaven on earth, the island of Yeu, “I'le d’Yeu”, home to Angèle Taraud, who is going to tell us all about an exciting experiment. So how did all of this come about? How did it get started: with a phone call? Someone ringing at your doorbell and offering you something pretty incredible?

Angèle Taraud

Hello! What gave this experimental project its start was word of mouth. I was at the Ile d'Yeu Economic Cluster one day, and was told about an experimental project called Harmon’Yeu. ENGIE had offered this collective prosumerism project, in which the idea was to build a collective of citizens and install photovoltaic panels on the roofs of multiple houses. 

Erik Orsenna 

The municipal authorities were really at the heart of the experiment, then. Because obviously, there is not a lot of oil or a lot of coal on Ile d'Yeu, so you had to find a way to organise energy. 

Angèle Taraud

Yes, exactly. The municipality is very committed to all things ecological and enabling the energy transition. First of all, when you look at Ile d'Yeu, you see that, out of 3,000 cars, 300 are electric, which is a pretty high proportion.

So you heard about the project, and thought, “hey, why not”? 

Angèle Taraud

It was an information session in late-2018 with ENGIE, which explained its experimental project to us. It should be said that it was one of the first collective prosumerism projects in France, and above all the first multi-generator project, meaning that there were multiple generation sites with 5 houses, all private individuals in single-family homes. 

Erik Orsenna 

There were five of you, so at the start, this was a very small and extremely local experiment, between neighbours.

Angèle Taraud

Yes, it was in a delineated neighbourhood. So, after that information session, ENGIE took care of all the paperwork at the town hall, because the local planning scheme on Ile d'Yeu is quite complicated. We needed solar panels that wouldn't be visible from the street, in order for them to be approved by the town hall. 

Erik Orsenna 

Yes, because on Ile d'Yeu, protection is very important. The energy transition is fine and well, but the landscape and the beauty of the houses remain an imperative all the same. It is a real juggling act!

Angèle Taraud

In early 2019, we submitted the applications to the town hall. And in April 2019, we were able to sign the contracts.
It was a contract in which we were told that we were going to be generating solar power and that during the experiment, which was initially planned to last 2 years, any energy generated not consumed by the 5 producers would be redistributed free of charge to the neighbours, i.e., 20 consumers who had responded positively to the survey. 

Erik Orsenna 

So solar panels would be installed on your houses. From there, you would use some of the electricity, and if there was any left over, it would be redistributed. As a result, you didn't pay anything to have the panels installed, of course, and you don't pay for your energy either, or maybe your energy bill is just lower? 

Angèle Taraud

Our panels were installed free of charge in October 2019. The experiment lasted 3 years instead of the originally planned 2, in order to more seriously prepare Harmon'Yeu's long-term future. 
At the end of the experiment, we were offered the choice between selling back our solar panels, having them removed them free of charge or buying them up, and continuing the Harmon'yeu community with the redistribution of solar energy not consumed to our neighbours at a set resale price per kilowatt-hour lower than the grid price at the time.

Erik Orsenna 

So, what would you say? Overall, how would you sum up these 3 years? 

Angèle Taraud

It was a very rewarding experiment, it helped us to understand how things work, and to understand our electricity bill too, which is not so easy. And then afterwards, to see the savings on your bills. Taking our own example, on average we're 20% self-sufficient. And we consume 33% of our solar power. All these figures were not very easy to understand at first. All in all, what was the upshot? The upshot is that our electricity bill has been cut by 20% because we consume 20% of our production and we sell 77% of our solar production, meaning he part we didn't consume. There is very little loss, and as there are multiple producers and multiple consumers, we consume 99.7% of our solar energy. 

Erik Orsenna 

At the end of those 3 years, what happened? Did you want to keep going? Because I imagine that over those three years, you talked to each other a lot. Is this something that brought the community of neighbours closer together, seeing as you were part of the same adventure?

Angèle Taraud

ENGIE did a very good job of organising this, with annual progress reviews on the experiment, where we were able to discuss and give each other tips between producers and even with consumers, so that we could adjust the way we use our energy, whether from the grid or solar energy, but also to be very watchful about all this. ENGIE also set up workshops with the association Élise to raise awareness about our consumption.

Erik Orsenna 

Compared to before, it's like night and day. Before, it was national and distributed. There was no local application and no interaction of any kind between consumers. Now it's local and it's an opportunity for discussion. And even, as odd as it may seem, is it the person generating the electricity who teaches you to consume less of that same electricity he is supposed to sell. It's pretty unusual, you have to admit!

Angèle Taraud

Yes, but the aim is for everyone to benefit and to stop consuming excessively when there are little things that everyone can do very easily and that don't take any time at all. And down the line, the savings are considerable. 

Erik Orsenna 

So what happened once the three years were up? 

Angèle Taraud

After three years, we called a general meeting to determine whether to keep the structure. ENGIE provided us with statements for the 22 years to come, so that we could see what would happen if we bought the panels. Because, at the end of the experiment, the question came up as to whether we should buy the panels, and thus invest a fairly large amount even though we didn't really know how profitable they would be. 
So we held a general meeting and we unanimously agreed to buy up our panels and keep this community going. It's important that this community be kept going, because we on Ile d'Yeu, are a very close-knit group, giving each other a hand whenever we need it. It is also a way of continuing to show solidarity with each other. 

Erik Orsenna 

I know Ile d'Yeu well: it feels like a boat. And a boat is a crew, and a crew, by definition, stands together. That's how it can stand up to the elements. In this case, both benefiting from solar and, secondly, fighting storms. 
So, has your example been taken up by anyone else? Did the Town Hall point to it as an example? Has it been followed on Ile d'Yeu and across France?

Angèle Taraud

I know that in France, the idea is developing enormously. Today, 187 collective prosumerism operations have already been commissioned. We were the forerunners, and the only ones to be multi-generators. 

Erik Orsenna 

So Harmon’Yeu showed the way. 

Angèle Taraud

That's right. And now, there are nearly 300 operations underway all over France.  On Ile d’Yeu, I know that ENGIE had made proposals in collaboration with the town hall to explore new directions. They have talked about putting solar panels on the old municipal workshop. 

Erik Orsenna 

I spoke with the President of the Departmental Council, Alain Bœuf, and we can see how far ahead Vendée is in the energy transition. There are green hydrogen projects from offshore wind turbines and, in fact, this is one of the topics that will be discussed at the time of the launch of the Vendée Globe.
The Vendée is not just the Puy du Fou, it is a very exemplary region in terms of rethinking our relationship with energy. Instead of a flow that comes from above and that we have no control over, we are actually helping to create and save energy. 

Angèle Taraud

Even in schools! I'm a teacher at a middle school on Ile d'Yeu and there are projects like that too. Our students took part in a Vendée Iceland project that showed how Vendée could take inspiration from Iceland, and vice versa in terms of the energy transition.

Erik Orsenna 

Are they interested in that? Because it's going to be their lives, to see more expensive energy, energy that needs to be saved. And energy that we can produce: that's exciting!

Angèle Taraud

Yes, I think it's very important to raise their awareness from a very young age. Sometimes they don't realise it, as they're not yet involved in the dynamics of everyday life with bills coming in, but it's important to make them aware from a very young age that they need to actively shape the daily lives they're going to have and which they're already talking about with their parents. Some children are familiar with these standard models to consume responsibly, in a different way. 

Erik Orsenna 

Then maybe we can all make a joint wish: that electricity bills become easier to read ... And I'll see you next summer on Ile d'Yeu, as I'm the patron of the book festival that takes place in mid-August and which I really enjoy, both as a reader and as a very, very amateur cyclist. The advantage of the island is that it's almost flat and there are some absolutely fantastic readers. Plus, of course, an exceptional maritime stopover. 
Well, thank you very much Angèle, thank you for sharing this experiment with us. I'm fascinated by what you've done. It is an experiment in which you took part as a consumer, a producer and a teacher, all 3 roles at the same time, well done!

Listen to the podcast (in French)