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The rise in energy prices is of particular concern to entrepreneurs in Loire-Atlantique, even before recruitment issues.
“
Today, it has become a structuring item in the cost price of products.
Business leaders are obliged to integrate it
”, notes Yann Trichard, the president of the CCI Nantes St-Nazaire.
In this context, the Department's Chamber of Commerce and Industry has just launched Estuaire Énergies, a cooperative energy supply company.
The last statutes are in the process of being filed.
For a starting bet of 1,000 to 3,000 euros, any company, regardless of its size and field (baker, laundry manager, etc.), can become a shareholder.
Read alsoEngie takes advantage of the gas surge to accelerate in renewable energies
“
Energy is a common good and connects all companies.
The idea is to ask ourselves how, in a serene way, we can manage this common good
”, explains Franck Sprecher, energy mission manager, recruited to manage this SCIC.
The latter had already set up a structure of this kind in the North.
Within the CCI network, Loire-Atlantique is a pioneer.
Buy, decarbonize, produce
Estuaire Énergies intends to “
work continuously on three pillars: buying, decarbonizing, producing locally
”.
By purchasing, this will make it possible to "
accumulate quantities, work on load curves, to call on producers who will be required to give us the benefit of competitive prices
", explains the head of the project.
Beyond the possibility of lowering the price of the kilowatt hour, “
the challenge is to manage to have visibility and stability.
What matters to me is knowing the price I will have in a year, two years, three years... and then I can build a strategy
adds François Guerin, CEO of CETIH (Company of Technical and Industrial Equipment for Housing).
The latter has seen its energy price bill go from 3 to almost 5 million euros.
It is one of the ten companies that have just joined the SCIC, alongside Banque Populaire Grand Ouest, IDEA...
Through decarbonization, Estuaire Énergies encourages entrepreneurs to “
work on their [their] consumption
” in order to lead them towards more sobriety.
“
We are trying to decarbonize our offers, we need to decarbonize our energies
,” admits Bruno Lescher, representative of FÉTIS, who also joins the SCIC.
The family business, initially specializing in the manufacture of diesel engines, has for some years been taking the turn of the energy transition with electricity and hydrogen.
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The third pillar concerns local production, with the joint implementation of "
renewable means of production [...] on our territory
", develops Franck Sprecher.
If a company invests on its own and wants to have reliable outlets, the SCIC can help it find consumers.
The idea is also to pool everyone's skills and encourage co-investment.
If someone has a parking lot but does not have enough means to install photovoltaic panels there, an interested member can bring roofs: "
If we manage within 5 years to secure 25% of our purchases in local production that will already be an ambitious level.
»
We will imagine and find solutions that today we would not have the idea
Yann Trichard, president of the Nantes-Saint-Nazaire CCI
“
Everyone comes with their desire.
We will imagine and find solutions that we would not have thought of today.
Tomorrow, we will certainly have our own energy production plants, which will belong to the cooperators.
Probably also the financing of innovations in the field, etc...
”, sums up Yann Trichard by insisting on the “
valorization of low-carbon energy
”.
Six people should ultimately be recruited into the adventure of the new structure.
Read alsoVinci is accelerating its conversion to renewable energies
“
It can lead to things you don't imagine.
30 years ago, we were asked to participate in the first tram line.
We didn't know anything about it, but we were given the opportunity to… Starting from there, Nantes has become a real know-how in the field of urban transport in France.
If we can do the same thing tomorrow by developing a Nantes team that will bring business outside our territories, that will be very good!
concludes Yves Gillet, president of the Keran group, one of the first members.
While the cooperative is primarily targeting the 80,000 businesses in Loire-Atlantique and the 150,000 in Pays de la Loire, it is intended to expand through industries whose sites are located in other regions.
The founders and young members of Estuaire Énergies, on February 27, 2023, at the premises of the CCI, in Nantes.
LT/Le Figaro