Best practice

Identification of potential

City of Paris : Clichy Batignolles urban area

Crédit photo : Cabinet Grether

This major Parisian operation aims to connect the Monceau plain and the Epinettes district, creating a new ten-hectare park to the north-west of Paris, and fostering an urban mix : it includes 3500 homes, at least half of which will be social housing, as well as businesses, public facilities and heritage development.

On this area of around fifty hectares, still occupied to a large extent by obsolete railway facilities, the City of Paris has set out to create an “exemplary eco-district”

As far as saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are concerned, this ambition implies trying to balance out CO2 emissions by using renewable natural energies (solar, geothermal, biomass, etc.) and using energy-saving techniques and products wherever feasible.

For more information, you can download : Clichy Batignolles urban area

Mobilization of potential

SOLIRA : Development of jointly owned PV systems

In 2007, the city of Chambery proposed to rent its roof for the development of PV systems via local investments. Philippe Vachette was responsible of the department of sustainable development and the main initiator of the idea. After several discussions with professional of the PV sector and jurists (to design roof renting contracts), and thanks to the work on deSolaSol European program, Philippe Vachette and other actors decided to develop a special fund named “SOLIRA Investissement”. The aim of the fund is to raise local investment from individuals and invest with public bodies in PV systems.

For more information, you can download : Solira Investment Company

City of Lyon : SERL Investment Company

The SERL (Société d’Equipement du Rhône et de Lyon) is one of the main urban developer of the Rhône department (Mainly Lyon and its suburbs). It is owned partly by Lyon conurbation, the Rhône department and the private sector. In 2008, a decision of the elected representative of the Rhône department and Lyon conurbation gave to the SERL the possibility to create a subsidiary to the SERL named SERL Energie which aim is to develop renewable energies projects. The objective is to have an instrument partly owned by the local authorities to invest in renewable energies such as photovoltaic systems on roofs of public and private buildings. The investment of the private sector in this society gives the possibility to raise sufficient funds for the projects.

For more information, you can download : SERL Investment Company

Town planning

Lyon Confluence Urban Planning

The Lyon Confluence project (a site of about 150 hectares) is one of the most ambitious city-centre urban regeneration projects in Europe. It will extend the centre of Lyon to the very tip of the Presqu’île peninsula by means of high-quality development projects that will meet stringent quality criteria in terms of urban planning, architecture, environmental impact and landscaping.

In 2004, a Concerto program has been set up on this area with the aim to introduce energy (consumption and renewable production) considerations in the first phases of the urban planning. Mandated by Grand Lyon, the urban manager of Lyon Confluence had imposed levels for energy consumption in the buildings and renewable energy productions (such as PV and solar thermal) in its call for proposals to chose the building developers of 3 sites : Ilots A, B and C

For more information : City of Lyon : Lyon Confluence Urban Planning

Paris : Business center Losserand

The SAGI, a SEM (mixed investment company) in which the City of Paris is a stakeholder, is involved in converting a former Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité sub-station, located at rue Raymond Losserand in Paris, into a business centre. Preserving the historic nature of the building, architect Emmanuel Saadi endeavoured to extend his original vocation by scattering photovoltaic cells over almost all of the glass surfaces. 45 000 polycrystalline cells on an active surface of 1000 m2. They are supposed to produce instant power 123.5 kWp.

For more information : Business center Losserand

Policy and legislation

Lyon Conurbation : References system for new buildings

In 2004, Lyon Conurbation had decided to create a local system of references for new buildings. This system of references only concerns buildings on town lands. It consists in compelling private and public builders to integrate environmental quality in their constructions. There are five main ideas to lead in the same time : Buildings integration ; building materials ; right management of flux ; right management of comfort ; decrease of pollution and risks. In the theme “right management of flux”, builders have to respect a low level of energy consumption (one French thermal regulation in advance) and a minimum of 20% of their energy have to be renewable energies (solar thermal, PV or biomass). It is noticed that in urban surrounding, the first energy used is solar.

For more information : References system for new buildings in Lyon