At the end of 2024, in the heart of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, a citizen-led project was born: the Durance Luberon Village Solar Cooperatives (CVDL). The journey began in autumn 2022 during the “Rencontres pour la Planète” organised by the “1% for the Planet” movement.

It was during this committed event that Laure VINCENT, Managing Director of terre d’Oc and Vice-President of 1% for the Planet, met Etienne JOUIN, an employee of the Village Solar Cooperatives association.

“His pitch immediately caught my attention. I have been a citizen shareholder in the Centrales Villageoises du Pays d’Aigues for more than 10 years. I thought to myself: why not install a village solar power plant on the roof of our company?” — Laure Vincent

Laure is enthusiastic about the project. She contacts the Centrales Villageoises du Pays d’Aigues, but learns that its area of operation does not extend all the way to the Luberon Regional Nature Park, in Villeneuve, where terre d’Oc is located… The idea of creating a new Village Solar Cooperative then begins to take shape. Laure presents the project to local associations, notably to Eric SALLEMBIEN, who would later become President of CVDL, with Laure serving as Vice-President.

The project’s founding group and the first CVDL shareholders gradually come together: Eric, Laure, the building owners and founders of terre d’Oc, Valérie ROUBAUD and Patrick LIONS, as well as Vincent CAVAILLES, former President of terre d’Oc. A key player soon joins the project: Daniel MARGOT, President of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and founder of Savonnerie de Haute Provence, located next to terre d’Oc.

“He immediately saw the potential, as it fit perfectly with the decarbonisation plan that the CCI wanted to implement across the local area [the CCI is responsible for the department’s energy mission]. On a personal level, the project also resonated with him: he owns Savonnerie de Haute Provence, a company located next to terre d’Oc, which he immediately envisioned as part of the project.” — Laure

They are soon joined by his son Samson MARGOT, Managing Director of Savonnerie de Haute Provence, and Laurène BERETTI, the company’s Administrative and Financial Manager. Frédéric PERASSO then joins the group. He is the architect behind the terre d’Oc building and also owns another building located behind terre d’Oc, which will take part in the project.

Finally, Amélie CHAROT, a Villeneuve resident and Partnerships and Funding Manager at the CCI, joins the group. The 10 founders develop the project with the national Centrales Villageoises association and officially register the CVDL statutes in December 2024.

What is a "Centrale Villageoise"?

Definition of a Village Solar Cooperative: This is a local participatory initiative aimed at developing renewable energy production facilities (mainly solar panels, but sometimes wind or biomass), led by citizens in partnership with local authorities.

How it works: Local residents come together in a cooperative company (such as a SCIC or SAS). Together, they finance the purchase and installation of solar panels, often on public or private rooftops. The electricity produced is sold to the grid (e.g. through EDF OA), generating revenue for the organisation, or used through collective self-consumption. Profits are reinvested locally or redistributed in a spirit of solidarity.

Objectives: To support the local energy transition. To involve citizens in energy-related issues. To boost the local economy and strengthen social ties. To reduce the territory’s carbon footprint.

The specific case of CVDL: Unlike most Village Solar Cooperatives based on purely citizen-led governance, CVDL was initiated and is driven by local businesses, alongside citizens and local authorities, as part of a multi-stakeholder approach. This model aims to combine the technical and financial expertise of businesses with citizen involvement, creating a project firmly rooted in the local area. CVDL is part of the energy strategy of DLVAgglo (Durance Luberon Verdon Agglomeration), which notably aims to develop photovoltaic projects on public land. CVDL is also a member of the national Association of Centrales Villageoises, which brings these initiatives together and shares methodologies and tools (model statutes, financial models, Enedis grid connection procedures, etc.). While complying with the national charter, CVDL is exploring a new form

A Warm Welcome Across the Local Community

Public meetings were organised to present the project, first at the terre d’Oc premises and then at Savonnerie de Haute Provence, with employees as well as local residents. Further meetings were held at Villeneuve town hall with elected officials and residents, as well as with local business owners. These discussions generated strong interest, with between 20 and 80 participants at each meeting, demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for this local initiative.

“The response from local authorities and residents has been fantastic.” — Laure

The mayors and local authorities of Villeneuve, Volx and La Brillanne quickly expressed their support, with some even offering several rooftops to host solar installations. Citizen participation through investment followed, with strong interest from local residents, particularly in the collective self-consumption initiative. The initial group of 10 founding members was therefore joined by many new individual shareholders and partner organisations (legal entities), confirming the project’s gradual expansion across the local area.

Two Initial Projects Already Underway!

The first installation, on the roof of terre d’Oc, with a capacity of nearly 100 kWp, is expected to be operational by the end of 2026. It will be followed by a building owned by neighbouring architect Perasso, with a capacity of 40 kWp. For the terre d’Oc installation, around 40% of the electricity produced will be used for on-site self-consumption, while the remaining 60% will be shared through collective self-consumption across the local area, benefiting resident shareholders and other legal entities.

A Model That Brings Local Businesses Together

One of the project’s major successes is the strong commitment from local businesses, a real sign of trust and a key factor in the success of the Village Solar Cooperative.

“It probably comes from the fact that we ourselves come from that world. And having the President of the CCI on board also opens doors.” — Éric

Thanks to their networks, the members of the collective are able to bring local economic stakeholders on board. The concrete example of terre d’Oc speaks for itself:

- A project aligned with its mission as an impact-driven company.

- The company benefits from self-consumption while redistributing its surplus across the local area.

The company’s positive image within the local community is further strengthened. Today, CVDL shares its experience at inter-CCI meetings, with the aim of promoting and replicating this model in other regions.

Local Authorities Are Listening

Local authorities are showing just as much interest, and collaboration is already well underway. The municipalities are fully involved: the project is presented to municipal councils, shared through local publications, publicly supported, and several public rooftops have already been made available for future installations.

“We take an entrepreneurial approach. To me, that’s not a dirty word. Our goal is to achieve a cost price that allows citizens involved in collective self-consumption to benefit from an attractive rate. If we can guarantee them a stable and attractive price for 10 to 15 years, we can bring more people on board. And the same applies to local authorities.” — Éric

The sharp increases in energy prices in 2020–2021 had a profound impact on local elected officials. Many of them want to avoid experiencing such a situation again and are therefore particularly interested in local, sustainable solutions that can be managed and controlled over the long term.

“The economic argument is important. But what also matters is how we present the project: we come with a turnkey solution that works. And above all, local authorities have decarbonisation targets to meet. When we tell them that a local organisation can take on the project for them, they see a real advantage.” — Laure

And what’s next?

With two installations ready to be launched on the rooftops of terre d’Oc and the Perasso building, and a successful fundraising campaign completed, the Durance Luberon Village Solar Cooperatives are already looking to the future.

Among the projects in the pipeline is a promising partnership with the municipality of Villeneuve, where several public rooftops could soon host collective self-consumption installations, as well as a ground-mounted solar power project. In Volx, other projects are also being considered, including initiatives involving a nursing home (EHPAD) and a local business. There is no shortage of opportunities.

Beyond renewable energy production, the team is driven by a broader ambition: to encourage genuine changes in behaviour by encouraging users to consume electricity… at the very moment it is produced.