When urban and rural join forces towards the energy transition

The case of Saint-Étienne Métropole and Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat


Saint-Etienne urban community and Pilat Regional Natural Park have signed up together since 2015 to become one of France’s exemplary territories in the energy transition process, a “Territoire à énergie positive” (TEPOS). They are setting up a string of measures to reach an ambitious climate goal: 70% of locally produced renewable energy sources in the energy mix by 2050.

Project in a Nutshell

In order to reach both the objectives of their climate and energy action plans and the commitment made to become a “Territoire à énergie positive”, Saint-Etienne-Métropole and Pilat Park are implementing a wide variety of measures. One of them is developing renewable energy sources. Every year, Saint-Etienne Métropole finances studies to explore different renewable energy sources: in 2017, they had already carried out studies on wind energy potential, rooftop photovoltaic solar potential, developing district heating and anaerobic digestion and were researching the use of underground coal mines water as a source of energy for district heating as well as studying hydropower potential.

Impact & Next steps

Results are entered in a table monitored by the regional Assistant to the contracting authority. Together with the TEPOS team they have regular check-up meetings. At the time of writing, monitoring figures are not yet available.

Replicability: Challenges & Success Factors

To manage the implementation of the actions undertaken, a team was created, composed of: a project manager and of energy/climate managers from the different municipalities involved. This “team” gathers one half day every six weeks to monitor the common actions, as well as projects set up in one municipality that could be replicated in others. Elected representatives are also involved in the process: they take part in a steering committee and in two seminars each year in which various topics are addressed.

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