Description of ARENE and of Ile-de-France region

The Regional Agency for the Environment and New Energies (ARENE) of the Paris Region, created in 1994, is supported by the Regional Council of Ile-de-France. Its mission is to improve quality of life for the inhabitants of the Paris Region (population of 12 million) by making it easier for the relevant economic, social, and cultural players to incorporate the issues of the environment, of renewable energies, and of energy savings into the regional sustainable development programmes that they are currently drafting.

Map

Ile-de-France region

  • 12672 km2
  • 11 millions inhabitants (19% of France)
  • 1281 municipalities and 8 départements
  • 80% of the land is agricultural or natural space
  • 2500 hotels and 140000 beds
  • 700 000 enterprises
  • 17 universities and 600 000 students

ARENE is a tool for implementing sustainable development on a regional level, and it conducts territorial actions in the following fields:

  • energy efficiency
  • renewable energies;
  • industry and the environment;
  • employment and the environment;
  • local Agenda 21;
  • sustainable transport and mobility;
  • environmental education
  • eco-building and sustainable urban renewal
  • decentralised cooperation

Such action involves:

  • supporting reproducible pilot projects;
  • providing expertise and practical assistance;
  • promoting exemplary actions; and
  • leading networks of participants.

Background

The Île de France connurbation accounts for 16% of all the energy consumed in France: a total of around 29.5 Mtoe. This is mainly provided by oil and natural gas, which results in the emission of 50 million tonnes of CO2 annually. A recent study carried out by ARENE, the energy agency for the Ile-de-France showed that 95% of that amount is imported, despite the fact there is considerable potential for the development of indigenous sources such as biomass, biogas and geothermal, solar, and wind power.

For over eight years, the agency has been working to raise the awareness of economic and public actors as to the importance of renewable energies. To do so it runs dissemination actions, and also organises visits, feasibility studies and pilot projects. In addition, the agency, which is associated with the Regional Council, is responsible for energy efficiency programmes and for assisting local authorities in the preparation of a Local Agenda 21.

Logo Arene In the field of energy, the main objectives of ARENE are:

  • Improvment of energy efficiency in all consuming sectors
  • Promotion of local and renewable energy sources.
  • Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutant emissions associated with fossil fuels.
  • Implementation of energy channels and creation of local employment.
  • Reduction of heating costs for local communities and social housing companies.

With a view to achieving the objectives enumerated above, ARENE has worked on a number of actions in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. The pattern normally followed starts with the identification of good practices that can be applied to the special characteristics of Ile-de-France; as a second step, the agency evaluates the feasibility of the different options in collaboration with key regional agents; finally, ARENE implements a dissemination strategy and supports a number of pilot projects which are potentially able demonstrate the technology well.

In general, the studies conducted to date have highlighted the potential of biomass from wood (estimated to be between 100,000 to 300,000 toe), straw (35,000 toe) and energy crops (171,500 toe). The recovery of energy from municipal solid waste or solid residues from water treatment plants is also worth mentioning (given the population density of the region) and has been estimated at around 300,000 toe in the case of biogas alone. A recent study of wind potential has revealed spare capacity of 100 MW in the short term, rising to about 500 MW in the long term. A pilot plant was brought into operation recently in Guitrancourt. The other two noteworthy sources of renewable energy are geothermal and solar thermal. Geothermal energy is well developed and at present more than 140,000 dwellings are heated from this source. In the case of solar thermal, although it considered as the most important renewable energy (RE) source in the area, it is still underutilized.

Type of actions carried out by ARENE :

  • Assistance for regional energy discussions
  • Study on regional energy policy and renewable energy potential (Geothermal energy, Wood, Solar thermal, Biogas from landfill and waste Wind )

These actions are complemented by demonstration and dissemination activities, such as feasibility studies and pilot plants (around 10 a year), site visits, publication of leaflets, technical guides and other material and the preparation of articles for the mass media.

www.areneidf.com