Small hydropower
Harnessing the power of rivers to produce sustainable energy.
Transforming yesterday’s heritage
France is the 3rd European country producing hydroelectricity, behind Norway and Sweden. The agreement for the development of sustainable hydroelectricity, signed in 2010, provides for additional production in the years to come. However, in France, old hydraulic mills are left abandoned or destroyed. Huge energy transition potential has been identified in some 60,000 hydraulic structures that are currently unexploited.
Renovate rather than destroy
The DNA of the Enerlis group is to systematically favor the preservation and enhancement of heritage. Via our dedicated company Icauna, we give a second life to existing hydraulic structures by putting river energy to good use, with a view to producing 100% renewable energy. We only intervene on existing sites in order to avoid any further disruption of the continuity of watercourses, and guarantee respect for the balance of fauna and flora as they have been organized around these facilities since decades.
Enerlis support
Over several years, we have developed skills essential to this type of project:
Technical expertise
Enerlis works to renovate small-power hydroelectric power plants (between 60 and 1000 kW) in order to produce green, local electricity, without harming biodiversity or the landscape. We intervene during and after the work, committing to the quality of the work and the results. Our dedicated team travels throughout France
Legal expertise
With our experience, we take care of all the restrictive administrative and legal procedures.
Financial expertise
The Enerlis group specializes in financing the energy transition. Thanks to its aid & subsidies and third-party financing division, we are able to support you in financing the rehabilitation of your power plant.
A question about small hydroelectricity?
The advantages of Small Hydro-Electricity
Local production
Local production
Enerlis works to renovate small-power hydroelectric power plants (between 60 and 1000 kW) in order to produce green, local electricity, without harming biodiversity or the landscape. We intervene during and after the work, committing to the quality of the work and the results. Our dedicated team travels throughout France
Yield
Yield
With our experience, we take care of all the restrictive administrative and legal procedures.
Supplementary income
Supplementary income
The Enerlis group specializes in financing the energy transition. Thanks to its aid & subsidies and third-party financing division, we are able to support you in financing the rehabilitation of your power plant.
Ecological continuity
Ecological continuity
By adopting an approach that respects biodiversity and the landscape, we can design projects that cause no or very little damage to aquatic fauna, and implement sediment treatment systems that protect the environment.
A word from the expert
Hydroelectricity, a renewed heritage serving tomorrow
Yann Mocaër
Hydraulic energy development director at Enerlis
FAQs
A question?
A water mill turbine uses the force of moving water to convert kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The water is directed to the turbine through a channel, where it hits the turbine blades or wheels. This action turns the turbine, which is connected to an electrical generator. The generator then transforms the mechanical energy into electricity by induction. This electricity produced is then distributed for local use or integrated into the electricity network.
Before the project, our team contacts you to check some elements necessary for the study of the project: the presence of water rights on the mill, the size of the valves, the height of the waterfall, the flow rate daily water… the aim is to check with you the future power of the plant, and the feasibility of renovating the mill. We advise you to contact our experts quickly for a detailed and reliable diagnosis.
In France, there are 2 options for reselling electricity production. The customer can choose to resell his production directly on the market, that is to say to choose the best commercial offer to sell electricity to an intermediary, who will take care of reselling on the market via the exchange. Epex electricity.
Otherwise, the customer can conclude a so-called purchase obligation contract with an obligated buyer (EDF, enercoop, Electricité de Strasbourg, etc.) in order to have their production purchased, in part or in full, at the rate set by the State. and specified in the contract, often higher than the market price of electricity. The purchase obligation mechanism is advantageous for the hydroelectricity producer, since the price, secured by a contract, does not change over time.