TSE launches its first collective self-consumption loop: Caisse d'Epargne Normandie connects its Villiers-Bocage branch

The TSE agrivoltaic canopy in Souleuvre provides green and inexpensive electricity to local businesses.

TSE, the reference in agrivoltaics in France, has launched its first collective self-consumption project (grouping together consumers in geographical proximity to consume locally produced electricity) around its Agricultural canopy of Souleuvre-en-Bocage (Calvados). This initiative offers businesses in the municipalities of Souleuvre, Torigny-les-Villes, Saint-Amand-Villages, Caumont-sur-Aure and Villers-Bocage, the opportunity to benefit from cheap, green electricity produced locally thanks to an agrivoltaic canopy.

Thanks to its partner Sunflow, an organizing legal entity, several local businesses responded positively (Zoo de Jurques, the Banque Populous, McDonald's and the Caisse d'Epargne Normandie).

Local production at the service of the territory

TSE is a 100% French and decentralized company. It develops energy models that promote the sharing of value with local actors, such as participatory financing, partnerships with cooperatives, CPPA (direct sales contract of electricity by mutual agreement between a producer and a company) with companies that consume large amounts of electricity, the payment of IFER (local tax levied on network companies) for the municipality and the community of municipalities... and now collective self-consumption. The integration of collective self-consumption in agrivoltaic projects thus allows companies to benefit from green and cheap energy, improving their competitiveness, while supporting the agricultural world.

>> To read: Why secure your supply and energy costs with a CPPA?

In Souleuvre-en-Bocage, the agricultural canopy installed on the farm of Daphné Huet and Yoann Bizet illustrates this approach. With an installed capacity of 2.9 MWp, on 3.4 hectares, each year, the photovoltaic installation produces around 3,700 MWh of renewable electricity, which is now available to local businesses.

Moreover, the operation is still open to new self-consumers.

Collective self-consumption: a second source of supply, green and local

Thanks to this system, businesses located within a radius of 20 kilometers in rural areas can benefit from local electricity, without modifying their infrastructure:

• Energy distributed in a short circuit via the Enedis network.
• No technical intervention required (no new cables or meters).
• Simple and flexible underwriting, based on a contractual agreement.
• Each company maintains its electricity supplier.

Solar electricity, available in short circuits, is the most competitive on the market, allowing businesses to better control their energy bills. Commercial conditions are defined in a flexible manner, through a direct agreement with the producer, thus guaranteeing adaptation to the specific needs of each local actor. By integrating this energy loop, companies become committed actors promoting the development of local production at the service of the territory.

An initiative supported by the Caisse d'Epargne Normandie

The Caisse d'Epargne Normandie has chosen to connect its Villers-Bocage branch to the collective self-consumption loop in Souleuvre, so that it can benefit from green electricity supplied in a short circuit. This method of local solar electricity production corresponds to its commitments in terms of energy transition. The installation in Souleuvre, financed by a subsidiary of the BPCE Group, thus allows it to pursue its approach to reducing its greenhouse emissions locally, which it initiated in 2018. Since that date, it has already reduced its CO2 emissions by nearly 18% by installing photovoltaic shades at its headquarters in Bois-Guillaume and on its administrative site in Caen, by opting for an electric car fleet, by connecting to the “Petite Bouverie” heating network in Bois-Guillaume, or by installing responsible home automation in its branches to optimize the lighting and heating of the premises.

The power supply to our Villers Bocage branch by the Souleuvre ACC has been operational since September 19. It is a desire of Caisse d'Epargne Normandie to favor clean energy, especially in a short circuit. ACC loops represent new levers to facilitate the energy transition locally. And as a business, we need to lead by example. When an initiative such as Souleuvre comes up, we subscribe to it. And it is an approach that we want to extend. It meets the commitments enshrined in our raison d'être, to act in favor of the sustainable growth of our region, says Geoffroy d'Anselme, member of the management board of Caisse d'Epargne Normandie in charge of the Resources Department.