Reducing Energy Poverty through Solar Energy - Sol Solidaire's Challenge
According to the National Observatory of Energy Poverty, 3.5 million households have difficulty paying their electricity bill in France.
©Sol Solidaire
Founded by a group of public and private organizations, Sol Solidaire aims to combine social and environmental progress by enabling beneficiaries of social housing to reduce their energy bills, thanks to the financing of solar panels.
To achieve this, the association proposes a direct impact donation: a 500 € donation can equip a household with two children with solar panels. Twice a year, Sol Solidaire also opens a call for projects to social housing actors, with the aim of developing short-term collective self-consumption photovoltaic installation projects. Applicants must commit to supplying solar electrons to their tenants free of charge.
Name: SOL SOLIDAIRE
Date of creation: 2020
Legal form: Association
Staff: The founding members free up the time of their employees to manage and follow the daily activities of the association
Turnover: 60 000 €
Manager: André Joffre, Founder of TECSOL, a solar energy consulting firm
Founding members:
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ADEME, represented by its President, Arnaud Leroy
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The law firm De Gaulle Fleurance et Associés, represented by Sylvie Perrin, associate lawyer
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The professional association Enerplan, represented by its vice-president Laëtitia Brottier
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The BPCE banking group, represented by its CSR director, Jean-Sylvain Ruggiu
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The Union Sociale pour l'Habitat, represented by its President, Emmanuelle Cosse, former Minister of Housing
Sector of intervention: Solar energy; Collective self-consumption; Fight against energy insecurity
Geographic area: France
Notable achievements: The association's first call for projects in 2020 drained a dozen applications from social landlords in different regions of metropolitan France and Reunion island, to equip 1,800 social housing units with solar panels and generate electricity bill savings for the inhabitants.
This article was written following the Transition Forum Call for Expressions of Interest. Sol Solidaire is part of the top 20 selected projects.
