Compagnie Nationale du Rhône - CNR

What Compagnie Nationale du Rhône - CNR does

Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) is a French public-interest company (société anonyme d'intérêt général) founded in 1933 that holds an exclusive state concession to develop and manage the Rhône River, executing three state-mandated missions: hydroelectric power production, navigation infrastructure, and irrigation services. Headquartered in Lyon, CNR operates as France's only producer of electricity from 100% renewable sources, producing approximately 15 TWh of renewable electricity annually—equivalent to powering 6.4 million people. Its portfolio is anchored on a mature hydropower fleet across the Rhône, complemented by 776 MW of installed wind capacity across 61 farms (subsidiary Vensolair) and 189 MWc of photovoltaic capacity across 60 solar installations (subsidiary Solarhona), with operations spanning seven French regions.

CNR's product and technology stack spans high-head hydroelectric installations (notably the 11 MW Sarenne plant commissioned January 1, 2025 with twin Pelton turbines and a 3,660 m underground waterway), innovative solar demonstrators including France's first floating transverse-platform photovoltaic at Lake Madone (Ô SOLAIRE, 230 kWp), the country's first vertical bifacial linear dike-mounted array at Sablons (104 kWp), and a dynamic agrivoltaic system at Dardilly with algorithm-driven panel orientation. The company is also piloting osmotic power generation at the Rhône delta through a partnership with Sweetch Energy (OPUS-1 project), and is extending into battery storage and renewable hydrogen via Vensolair. Supporting infrastructure includes 400 km of dikes, the Port de Lyon navigation terminal, the CESAME physical hydraulic-modeling center, and a hydrological information portal (InfoRhône).

Revenue is generated across six streams sold primarily through direct enterprise and government field sales: long-term power purchase agreements with grid operators RTE and ENEDIS for hydropower output; wind energy sales (Vensolair) and solar PV sales (Solarhona/direct); port and navigation services via Port de Lyon; irrigation services for 65 partner farms in the Rhône Valley; and engineering/consulting services through CESAME and the Hydraulic Laboratory. Pricing is project-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is via six territorial delegations along the Rhône corridor from Lyon to the Mediterranean, supported by a main institutional website (cnr.tm.fr) and a commercial renewable-energy portal targeting landowners, municipalities, and businesses. Customer concentration is concentrated in the French State (as concession counterparty) and major utility grid operators.

Name

Compagnie Nationale du Rhône - CNR

Legal name

Compagnie Nationale du Rhône

Website

https://cnr.tm.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) is a French public-interest company holding an exclusive state concession to manage the Rhône River, generating ~15 TWh annually of 100% renewable electricity through hydropower, wind, and solar assets serving the French grid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Hydropower Generation

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Power Generation (22111), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydroelectric Turbines & Governors (IMAHAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wind Turbines & Nacelle Prime Movers (IMAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Renewable energy generation
• Hydroelectric power production
• River concession management
• Wind and solar development
• Agricultural irrigation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Hydropower Generation and Concession Management: CNR operates as the concession manager of the Rhône River, generating revenue through hydroelectric power production. The company executes its three state-mandated missions: hydropower production, navigation infrastructure, and irrigation services.
2. Wind Energy Development and Sales: Through subsidiary Vensolair, CNR develops and operates onshore wind farms across France. 61 wind farms totaling 776 MW installed capacity, primarily in Rhône Valley, Hauts-de-France, Pays-de-la-Loire, and Grand-Est regions.
3. Solar Photovoltaic Development and Sales: Through subsidiary Solarhona and direct operations, CNR develops solar installations including floating photovoltaics, agrivoltaïc systems, ground-mounted and rooftop solar. 60 solar installations totaling 189 MWc installed capacity.
4. Navigation and Port Development: Revenue from Port de Lyon operations, logistics services, and navigation infrastructure supporting river freight transport between Lyon and Mediterranean.
5. Agricultural Irrigation Services: Irrigation infrastructure services for agricultural operations along the Rhône Valley, supporting sustainable agriculture and water resource management.
6. Engineering and Consulting Services: Through CN'Air subsidiary and engineering divisions, CNR provides hydroelectric engineering, modeling, and consultancy services including CESAME expert center for physical modeling and hydraulic infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CNR is the state concession holder of the Rhône River and France's leading 100% renewable electricity producer. It executes three state-mandated missions — hydroelectric power production, river navigation, and irrigation — and develops wind and solar generation through its subsidiaries Vensolair and Solarhona. The company operates approximately 15 TWh of renewable electricity annually, 61 wind farms (776 MW), 60 solar plants (189 MWc), 400 km of dikes, and supporting engineering, port, and irrigation infrastructure.

Product overview

Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR) is a public-interest joint stock company that manages the Rhône River and serves as France's leading 100% renewable electricity producer. The company's portfolio is organized around five core pillars: (1) hydroelectric power production as the anchor business, generating ~15 TWh annually from the Rhône; (2) wind and solar energy developed through its subsidiaries Vensolair (61 wind farms, 776 MW; battery storage; renewable hydrogen) and Solarhona (60 photovoltaic plants, 189 MWp); (3) river navigation and port development through the Port de Lyon; (4) irrigation and sustainable agriculture serving 65 farms; and (5) engineering services via CESAME and the Hydraulic Laboratory. Major product launches include the 11 MW Sarenne hydroelectric plant (2025), the Ô SOLAIRE floating solar park (2019, 230 kWp), the Sablons linear bifacial vertical solar demonstrator (2018, 104 kWp), and the Parcelles du Futur dynamic agrivoltaic project. CNR also operates InfoRhône, a real-time river navigation information platform, and participates in innovative projects such as the Barcarin osmotic power plant with Sweetch Energy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vensolair: Commercial brand for wind energy, photovoltaic, repowering, battery storage, and renewable hydrogen projects
• Solarhona

Products and services

• Hydropower Generation (Hydroélectricité CNR) Core hydroelectric power production along the Rhône River, generating approximately 15 TWh of renewable electricity annually — equivalent to powering 6.4 million people with decarbonized energy. The Rhône River hydroelectric fleet is operated by CNR under state concession.
• Centrale hydroélectrique de la Sarenne High-head hydroelectric power plant on the Sarenne torrent in Isère, with 11 MW installed capacity using two Pelton turbines, 36 GWh annual production, fish passage with 12 successive basins, and 120 l/s reserved environmental flow.
• Ô SOLAIRE — Floating Photovoltaic Park at Lac de la Madone France's first and only transverse-platform floating photovoltaic installation, combining irrigation, solar generation, and aquatic biodiversity. 230 kWp capacity, 250 MWh annual production powering SMHAR irrigation pumps.
• Vertical Bifacial Linear Photovoltaic Demonstrator at Sablons France's first vertical bifacial linear photovoltaic installation on a river dike — 288 bifacial panels over 350 meters, 104 kWp capacity producing 104 MWh annually.
• Parcelles du Futur — Dynamic Agrivoltaic Demonstrator Dynamic agrivoltaic demonstration project at Dardilly (Rhône), 504 mobile bifacial photovoltaic panels at 5 meters height over 230 kWc, with algorithm-driven panel orientation based on real-time luminosity, temperature, humidity, and plant water comfort sensors over strawberry, raspberry, and ornamental plant crops.
• OPUS-1 Osmotic Power Demonstration (Centrale osmotique à Barcarin) Osmotic power demonstration project at the Rhône River delta, developed with Sweetch Energy using INOD® nanotechnology membranes to generate electricity from salinity gradient between fresh river water and saltwater at river mouths.
• InfoRhône Real-Time Navigation Information Service Web-based navigation information service for the Rhône River providing real-time data on flows, water levels, clearances, moorings, boat positions (AIS), and RNPC (Navigation Restrictions during Flood Period) alerts across six sectors.
• Vensolair — Wind and Solar Project Development CNR subsidiary specialized in onshore wind, photovoltaic, repowering, battery storage, and renewable hydrogen project development across France. Operates 61 wind farms with 776 MW installed capacity primarily in Rhône Valley, Hauts-de-France, Pays-de-la-Loire, and Grand-Est regions.
• Solarhona — Photovoltaic Energy Development CNR subsidiary specialized in photovoltaic solar energy project development and operations across France. Operates 60 photovoltaic plants totaling 189 MWp installed capacity, beginning with solar deployment in 2008.
• Port de Lyon — River Navigation and Port Development River navigation, port logistics, and multimodal freight services through management of the Port de Lyon, linking Lyon to the Mediterranean via the Rhône River as part of the Rhône-Saône logistics axis in partnership with Grand Port Maritime de Marseille and Voies Navigables de France.
• Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture Services Irrigation infrastructure and water resource management services for agricultural operations along the Rhône Valley, supporting 65 farms in agroecological transition and combining water supply, agrivoltaic pilots, and CN'Air concession operations.
• Engineering Services (CESAME and Applied Hydraulic Laboratory) Engineering and hydraulic-modeling expertise including CESAME (Centre d'Essais, de Surveillance, d'Analyses et de Mesures pour l'Exploitation) and the Applied Hydraulic Laboratory, providing physical reduced-scale hydraulic modeling, infrastructure engineering consultancy, and laboratory testing services to internal projects and external clients.
• Restauration écologique du Rhône (Rhône Ecological Restoration) Ecological restoration of the Rhône River environment as part of CNR's general-interest mandate to preserve biodiversity and river ecosystems alongside hydropower, navigation, and irrigation operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 15 TWh of renewable electricity produced annually, equivalent to powering 6.4 million people with decarbonized energy
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sweetch EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for OPHELIA osmotic energy project using INOD® nanotechnological membranes to generate electricity from salinity differences at river mouths. Demonstration project OPUS-1 conducted at Rhône River delta.
• Grand Port Maritime de MarseillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Mediterranean-Rhône-Saône axis logistics development. Joint aid program for containerized river freight transport between Fos and Lyon Port Edouard Herriot.
• Voies Navigables de France (VNF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for river navigation development on the Rhône-Saône axis, supporting multimodal logistics and sustainable freight transport.
• BG Ingénieurs Conseils / WSPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering design and construction supervision for the Sarenne hydroelectric project, merged with WSP in 2024.
• Spie Batignolles / Cogeis / EdilmacminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustrial partners for underground infrastructure construction on the Sarenne hydroelectric project.
• EiffageminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCivil engineering works for intake structure and power plant construction on Sarenne project.
• SDEL Actemium / ATB RivaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHydro-electromechanical equipment suppliers including Pelton turbines for Sarenne hydroelectric project.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for vertical bifacial linear photovoltaic demonstrator at Sablons. CEA conducted laboratory testing and bench trials on panel performance.
• INES 2S (Institut National de l'Énergie Solaire)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar performance studies and analysis for the Sablons bifacial photovoltaic demonstrator during initial years of operation.
• SUN'AGRIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgrivoltaic system expert providing dynamic shading technology for Parcelles du Futur project with algorithm-driven panel orientation.
• OMEXOM EnR Lyon (Vinci Energies)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSolar photovoltaic system design and construction for the Parcelles du Futur agrivoltaic demonstrator.
• Laboratoire INES du CEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert support on innovative photovoltaic modules, design studies, and technical monitoring of solar radiation and electrical production for Parcelles du Futur.
• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder and land owner for Parcelles du Futur agrivoltaic project. Supported 40% of €1 million total investment. Land property provided for the experimentation.
• Campus Agrilyon Vert de Lyon Dardilly EcullycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural technicians and trainers ensuring crop cultivation, production sales, and knowledge transfer for Parcelles du Futur project.
• CTIFL (Centre Technique Interprofession des Fruits et Légumes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgronomic monitoring of the Colline plot (strawberries and raspberries) for Parcelles du Futur project.
• ASTREDHOR Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgronomic monitoring of the Pépinière plot (ornamental plants) for Parcelles du Futur project.
• Chambre d'Agriculture du RhôneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural support for Campus Agrilyon Vert farm management at the Colline site.
• SMHAR (Syndicat Mixte d'Hydraulique Agricole du Rhône)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManager of the Madone irrigation lake hosting the first floating photovoltaic platform in France, with shared governance of the Ô SOLAIRE project.
• ISARA (Institut Supérieur d'Agriculture Rhône-Alpes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental research partnership conducting physicochemical water analysis and aquatic fauna monitoring for floating photovoltaic project.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• EDF: France's dominant state-linked electric utility and the largest hydropower producer in France. Directly comparable as a French state-concessioned integrated renewable operator competing for the same concessions, tenders, and grid offtake.
• ENGIE: French-listed global utility with a major renewable energy portfolio and historical corporate ties to CNR. Comparable across integrated renewable generation, French concessions, and wind/solar project development; ENGIE is also listed as a partner on CNR's recruitment portal.
• Statkraft: Norwegian state-owned hydropower major and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. Highly comparable as a state-tied hydro pure-play that combines reservoir flexibility with growing wind and solar, anchored by long-duration water rights.
• Vattenfall: Swedish state-owned utility with significant hydropower across the Nordic region and a stated strategy to grow wind and solar. Comparable as a state-controlled multi-technology renewable operator with regulated and concession-style assets.
• Verbund: Austrian-listed hydropower-led utility and one of Europe's largest run-of-river and storage generators. Comparable as a publicly traded, hydro-anchored operator expanding into wind and solar with a strong concession/infrastructure footprint.
• Iberdrola: Spanish-listed global renewable major with large-scale hydro, wind, and solar portfolios. Comparable as an integrated renewables operator with European grid-tied assets navigating similar regulatory and decarbonization pressures as CNR.
• Enel Green Power: Italian-headquartered renewable IPP with multi-gigawatt wind, solar, and hydro portfolios. Comparable as a diversified renewable developer competing for European tenders and corporate PPAs in segments where Vensolair/Solarhona operate.
• EDP Renováveis: Portuguese-listed wind and solar developer and one of Europe's largest renewable operators. Comparable as a pure-play renewable IPP building onshore wind and solar capacity in European markets.
• BKW Energie: Swiss integrated energy company with hydropower, grid, and renewable development. Comparable as a regulated, hydro-anchored utility expanding wind/solar portfolios in a federal state-concession environment similar to CNR's.
• Alpiq: Swiss hydropower-led energy company with cross-border European renewables. Comparable as a European hydro-anchored operator with growing solar/wind exposure in competitive tender frameworks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compagnie-nationale-du-rhone-gdf-suez-group
• Xx.com/cnr_officiel
• Facebookfacebook.com/CNRofficiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Compagnie Nationale du Rhône - CNR