Renewable and local energy: towards a resilient model
Renewable and local energy: towards a resilient model
Solar energy, biomass, geothermal energy... Renewable energies are at the heart of the transition to a cleaner energy model. While renewable energy production offers the possibility of obtaining electricity and heat in a sustainable way, the benefits vary depending on the source and how they are integrated into your site. When produced and consumed locally, they enable you to reduce your direct CO₂ emissions (scope 1) and increase your energy independence. To better understand this, let's explore these solutions in more detail.
An article by our experts;
Antoine Ferrant,
Department Manager Solar - Carbon Shift
Laurent Detraux,
Business Development Manager - Carbon Shift
Renewable and local energy: what does that mean?
Before discussing solutions, it is important to distinguish between two concepts:
- Renewable energy: this is energy derived from natural resources that are constantly being renewed (sun, wind, water, ground heat, etc.) and whose exploitation does not deplete the planet's resources.
- Local energy: this is energy produced and consumed nearby, often on the same site or through solutions such as a heating or cooling network.
Energy can be renewable without being local (such as green electricity purchased from the grid, for example). Conversely, it can be local without being renewable (this is the case with gas cogeneration, in particular). When renewable energy and local energy are combined, you get the best of both worlds by producing and consuming carbon-free energy directly on your site.
Solar energy: who is it for,
and what is it for?
Through its Carbon Shift offering, Equans provides several solutions to help organisations reap the benefits of local renewable energy. Among these, solar energy stands out as an accessible and efficient option. Whether you manage an industrial site, an office building or a hospital, solar energy production allows you to make the most of every available square metre (roof, car park or unused land).
In Flanders, a directive makes the installation of photovoltaic panels mandatory for buildings with electricity consumption exceeding 1 GWh (and 250 MWh for public sites). Whether you want to anticipate these regional requirements or meet your decarbonisation targets, don't hesitate to assess the solar energy production potential (whether photovoltaic, thermal or hybrid) of your site. Equans can help you implement the solution that best suits your expectations and objectives.
Other renewable energy sources
In addition to solar energy, other local renewable energy solutions can effectively complement your energy mix. Some require solid technical expertise, but offer great opportunities to diversify your supply sources and strengthen your energy independence.
Geothermal energy
Whether captured at shallow or deep depths, the natural heat of the subsoil is a continuously available resource. An excellent form of local energy, it has the advantage of not depending on climatic conditions (unlike solar or wind power). To take advantage of this solution, we recommend that you carry out a preliminary analysis of the geothermal potential and take into account local technical, economic and regulatory constraints.
Biomass
Available in abundance in Belgium, wood, bio-waste, straw and agricultural residues can also be converted into thermal and electrical energy. Installing a biomass boiler, sometimes coupled with cogeneration, allows you to get the most out of it. Please note: for your approach to be truly sustainable, it is essential that the resource used is local and managed responsibly.
Hydroelectricity
One need only think of the water mills still in operation or certain hydroelectric dams to remember that water is also an excellent source of renewable and local energy in Belgium and Luxembourg. If your site is located near a lake or river, Equans can assist you in setting up a renewable energy production project that allows you to fully exploit this resource.
How can you avoid price fluctuations on the grid?
If you have chosen to install photovoltaic panels or any other renewable electricity generation system on your site, you are probably planning to feed any excess electricity you generate back into the grid. Unfortunately, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources can cause price fluctuations in the electricity market. These prices can even become negative, making the feed-in of your surplus energy costly instead of profitable.
To strengthen your energy resilience, we can help you implement two complementary strategies:
- Optimise your self-consumption by adjusting the operating hours of your equipment or using a battery storage system, for example.
- Integrate new consumption vectors such as vehicle charging stations, a heat pump or a green hydrogen production system.
"92% of industries taking steps to replace fossil fuels with lower CO₂ emission energy sources are turning to renewable energy."
(excerpt from the recent survey conducted by OpinionWay for Equans in Europe)
As a renewable energy producer, your ability to adjust your production and consumption to the needs of the electricity grid can become a real competitive advantage. If you know the best time to produce, consume or resell the electricity generated by your renewable energy installations, you can maximise the return on your local energy production.
Thanks to the smart grid, Equans helps you manage your energy equipment more efficiently by enabling it to automatically adapt to grid demand. The result? No more need to suffer market fluctuations! You optimise your costs and add value to your green electricity through what is known as electrical flexibility.
Where to start?
Do you represent a company, industry or local authority? Do you want to integrate solar energy or any other form of renewable, local energy production into your site's operations? From design to maintenance, Equans offers you specific or comprehensive solutions that will enable you to get the most out of your investment. Specifically, we can help you:
- define the solution that best suits your needs, based on your decarbonisation objectives;
- conduct a feasibility study and assess your self-consumption potential;
- size your equipment according to your actual needs (current and future);
- install, commission and operate your facilities;
- identify the most advantageous financing options to make your investment profitable.
Embark on the decarbonisation of your organisation with Equans
Financial resources available to support your low-carbon strategy
Certain subsidies and grants are available to support your decarbonisation projects. Equans helps you identify the most suitable schemes and put together your application. It also provides innovative financial solutions to help you bring your sustainability projects to fruition, for example through energy-saving models that gradually repay your investment.
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