Photovoltaic and thermal power plant of the Préau des Colibris in Voiron
About this good practice
A group of people in Voiron gathered to bring their participative housing project come to life. Their ambition was to build their condominium using eco-friendly materials, the Préau des Colibris. In an effort to go one step further, they decided to supply part of their energy consumption through a mix of photovoltaic and thermal solar panels.
This ambition represented an added financial cost that the co-owners could not meet. Therefore, they sought alternative financing solutions. Conveniently, a year earlier, a group of citizens founded Buxia Energies with the aim to setup energy transition projects that provide for the territory and its inhabitants. Hence, they decided to intervene as a third party investor to undertake the solar installations. Thanks to which a 9kWp photovoltaic and 6kW solar thermal energy rooftop was installed on the condominium.
The PV panels are entirely operated by Buxia Energies, they took a lease on the rooftop, installed the panels and now sell the electricity produced at a fixed rate over 20 years. The revenue from the sale of energy is used to cover the costs, pay the shareholders and to develop new installations. Buxia Energies also invested in the solar thermal panels and the boiler. The non-trading estate company pays Buxia Energies a rent for 10 years based on the expected gas savings. The installation operates with 50% renewable energy and is the first citizen solar thermal project in France.
Expert opinion
Third-party financing and investment models for solar thermal or solar PV installations are very interesting instruments to increase the penetration of decentrally produced and consumed renewables with the help of mostly private funding. While the first wave of roof installations was done mainly by home owners with both a suitable roof and the necessary financing capacity, the third-party financing model allows to pair suitable roofs with investors from the outside. These models typically produce energy for the benefit and use of the peope living under those roofs, while the financial burden of the upfront investment is borne by investors. Such investors can also be a group of citizens that pool their means. Such financing models are fully in line with the political agenda of energy transition, participatory approaches and leaving noone behing, core principles of the Green Deal. While its complexity makes the model not very easy to transfer, the associated benefits make a transfer however very worth the while.
Resources needed
Buxia Energies invested 15 440 € and received a grant of €9,640 from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region as part of the call for partnership projects.
Buxia Energies is run by volunteers.
Legal advice was sought to validate the contractual model.
Evidence of success
This operation benefits multiple stakeholders on the achievement of broader objectives:
- A simpler solar thermal technology, more reliable and more comfortable.
- Energy costs for in line with forecasts.
- For Buxia Energies: new business opportunities in the thermal sector
- Pioneering advancements to streamline future similar projects.
- Demonstrated the importance of third-party citizen investment.
- The contribution to the objectives of the TEPOS-CV territory.
Potential for learning or transfer
This project can be reproduced for co-ownerships that request it and that are at the limit of their debt capacity.
However, this method of financing needs to be brought to the attention of co-ownerships where the decision-making procedures are complex.
Other targets could be considered (small tertiary buildings with a need for heat, existing social landlords' stock, etc.) once the contractual model has been consolidated.
The generalization of instrumentation systems for solar thermal systems such as TelesuiWeb which monitoring the operation of the installation or the quantity of energy produced could reassure the beneficiaries and the citizen investors.
The legal study on the contract models between the citizens and the consumers will allow making the contractual perimeter more reliable.
Multiple collective housing operations could find an interest in this third-party investment solution.
Further information
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Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
BUXIA ENERGIES