This unique initiative was recently launched by Octopus Energy. It allows discounts of up to 50%, depending on the energy production recorded.
69% of French people would be in favor of installing a wind turbine less than 15 kilometers from their home if it would reduce their electricity bills. This is the result of an Ipsos survey carried out for Octopus Energy (formerly Plum Energy). Based on this observation, the green energy supplier has just developed a unique concept in France: a reduction in electricity for the neighbors of the wind turbines.
Already tested in the United Kingdom, where Octopus Energy is the market leader, this initiative was launched in October in Loire-Atlantique, on the Joué-sur-Erdre “Les Touches II” wind farm, made up of three masts. Residents of municipalities located within a 10 kilometer radius are eligible. By subscribing to the “Fan Club” program, they can benefit from cheaper electricity. The reduction is 50% if the wind turbine turns a lot, 20% if it turns little and 0% if it does not turn. On average, according to the supplier's forecasts, this represents a drop of 20% over one year.
Better acceptability
“Wind energy is unfortunately very often slowed down by local acceptability. The people around do not understand, resist or even prevent the implementation. With the “Fan Club”, the idea is to say: “I want it in my home because I see a concrete benefit””explains to Figaro Lancelot d'Hauthuille, general manager of Octopus Energy France, contacted by telephone. The logic goes further: with the Winder platform, the «Tinder » wind power, people who would like a wind turbine near their home can even request one. In the United Kingdom, 36,000 people have already taken the plunge. “Rather than starting with a heritage inflection, it’s the communities who say “I want one near me””underlines the representative of Octopus, also a producer, who aims to expand.
In Joué-sur-Erdre, the park in question does not belong to them. A partnership has been established with an operator. “It’s something that really interested us. We are working on maximizing local benefits. There are different levers, such as direct or indirect taxes for municipalities. But for direct residents, we did not yet have a complete and satisfactory solution. This offer allows us to meet this expectation”says Nikita Ghelelovitch, development manager in the West at SAB Energies Renouvelables. “For customers, there is a fun side: linking their energy bill to the fact that things are running”he adds, evoking a “awareness”. “Today, we lose the ability to see where this energy comes from. We no longer correlate production with the use we make of it”. In fact, by pressing a switch, it is difficult to understand where the energy allowing the bulb to light up comes from.
Real-time consumption
In England, a lady changed the route of her daily walk to pass near the wind turbine and see if it was spinning. A dashboard also exists for users: “We see in real time how much energy it consumes and how much reduction it makes”observes a resident of Nort-sur-Erdre, who does not see the wind turbines from home but can still benefit from the rebate, living within the allotted radius. This supporter of this renewable energy confides: “It just happened but it’s surprising it hasn’t happened before. If it can convince people to accept wind turbines in the area…”
In the community of communes of Ancenis, there are around sixty wind turbines according to its first vice-president, Jean-Pierre Belleil. Also mayor of Joué-sur-Erdre, the latter welcomes Octopus' initiative. If the arrival of the “Touches II” park was “fairly well accepted by the population”he knows that a more general reluctance towards wind turbines exists. “It is rural areas that are most impacted by the installation of wind turbines”he notes. SO “if the residents also have a financial advantage, it’s easier to get people to accept”. Especially since the community already receives something thanks to the wind turbines, with the Ifer tax (the flat-rate tax on network companies). The councilor (Horizons) hopes that the “Fan Club” works and spreads throughout France. Currently, Octopus, which wants the same thing, is responsible for the reductions. “If overall, it allows us to develop new projects and changes acceptability, we see it as an investment”concludes director Lancelot d’Hauthuille.
