What Vendée Energie does

Vendée Energie is a Société d'Économie Mixte Locale (SEM) created in 2002 by the SYDEV (Syndicat Départemental d'Énergie et d'Équipement de la Vendée) and the Conseil Départemental de la Vendée to develop, build, and operate renewable energy installations on behalf of Vendée territorial collectivities and local enterprises. Headquartered in La Roche-sur-Yon, the company functions as a public-service energy producer and distributor across five integrated technology streams: onshore wind (8 farms, 55 turbines, 66 MW, ~126 GWh/year), photovoltaic solar (175 installations, 57 MWc, ~67 GWh/year) including dedicated parking canopy programs, agricultural methanization (collective units processing 60,000 tonnes of effluents/year, 30 GWh of biomethane), green hydrogen (via the Lhyfe site at Bouin producing 300 kg/day from seawater electrolysis powered by Vendée Energie wind turbines), and offshore wind (0.5% equity stake in the EMYN 62-turbine farm at 1,900 GWh/year). The company also holds minority equity positions in five-plus methanization vehicles and operates four dedicated subsidiaries — Vendée GNV, Vendée Solaire, Vendée Éolien, and Vendée Ombrières — that execute the BioGNV distribution, solar development, wind project, and parking canopy lines respectively.

The technology stack is based on commercially proven renewable generation and distribution assets rather than proprietary R&D. Production is fed into either the electricity grid, the GRDF gas network (for biomethane), or captured directly at company-operated refueling infrastructure. Distribution is anchored by a proprietary network of 8 BioGNV stations across the Vendée department (targeting 9 by 2025) and two multi-energy stations at La Roche-sur-Yon and Les Sables d'Olonne that simultaneously dispense BioGNV, green hydrogen, and electric vehicle charging — a co-located model the company describes as unique in Europe.

The business model combines four revenue streams: regulated tariff and long-term concession revenue from developing and operating wind, solar, and methanization assets on behalf of collectivities; volume-based fuel sales at BioGNV and hydrogen stations; project development fees, lease payments, and energy sale revenue from photovoltaic canopies on public and private sites; and equity returns from minority stakes in joint methanization and offshore wind ventures. Customers span Vendée municipalities and intercommunalities (primary), transport and logistics operators (BioGNV buyers), private industrial partners (notably Groupe Bénéteau under a 7M EUR canopy program), agricultural cooperatives (methanization feedstock), and gas distribution infrastructure operators (GRDF). The model is structurally aligned with French and EU renewable energy mandates and reinvests revenue locally into additional territorial projects.

Name

Vendée Energie

Legal name

SARL Vendée Énergie

Website

https://vendee-energie.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vendée Energie is a Vendée departmental SEM that develops and operates wind, solar, agricultural methanization, and green hydrogen assets, while distributing BioGNV and hydrogen through a regional refueling network serving municipalities, transport operators, and local enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Production and Distribution

NAICS

Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Biomass Electric Power Generation (221117), Electric Power Generation (22111), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Microgrid Development, EPC & Integration (EUAMAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wind Power Plant EPC (Onshore/Offshore) (EUAEAAAF), Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC)

Keywords

• Renewable energy production
• Biomethane distribution
• Solar power generation
• Wind energy operations
• Green hydrogen mobility

Headquarters

HQ city

La Roche-sur-yon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Renewable energy development and operation for territorial collectivities: Vendée Energie develops, constructs, and operates wind, solar, and methanization installations on behalf of Vendée municipalities and departmental authorities, generating revenue through regulated tariffs, feed-in premiums, and long-term concession fees paid by local collectivities.
2. BioGNV and alternative fuel station distribution: Revenue from selling BioGNV (biomethane for vehicles) and green hydrogen at Vendée Energie-operated refueling stations to transport companies, local authorities, and private individuals. Sales are volume-based at the pump.
3. Equity stakes in co-development projects: Vendée Energie holds minority equity stakes in joint-venture renewable energy projects (methanization units, offshore wind, hydrogen production), generating returns through dividends and asset appreciation.
4. Photovoltaic canopy (ombrière) installations for private enterprises: Development, construction, and operation of large-scale photovoltaic parking canopies for industrial and commercial partners (e.g., Beneteau Group), generating lease payments and energy sale revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Vendée Energie develops, builds, and operates renewable energy production installations (wind, solar, methanization, green hydrogen) on behalf of Vendée territorial collectivities and private enterprises. The company also distributes alternative fuels — BioGNV (biomethane for vehicles) and green hydrogen — through a network of 8+ owned refueling stations across the Vendée department, serving transport companies, local authorities, businesses, and individuals. Operations span the full renewable energy value chain from production through end-user fuel distribution in short circuits within the territory.

Product overview

Vendée Energie is a Société d'Économie Mixte (SEM) founded in 2002 by Vendée local authorities to develop renewable energy production. The company operates as an integrated renewable energy platform offering five core production streams: Éolien (wind farms), Photovoltaïque (solar installations), Méthanisation (biogas from organic waste), Hydrogène vert (green hydrogen), and Éolien en mer (offshore wind). The portfolio includes 8 wind farms (66 MW), 175 solar installations (57 MWc), 3 methanization units (30 GWh), and equity in the offshore EMYN wind project. For energy distribution, Vendée Energie operates BioGNV fueling stations and multi-energy stations dispensing green hydrogen, electricity, and BioGNV for transportation. The Vendée Ombrières subsidiary produces solar parking canopies. All offerings support short-circuit local energy production for Vendée territory collectivités and businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wind Energy (Éolien)

Quantifiable outcome

• 170 GWh annual renewable energy production; 21% of Vendée's wind and solar renewable energy production, equivalent to supplying 50,000+ households
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, secondary and core.

• Communauté de communes Océan Marais de Monts (OMDM)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Vendée Energie and the OMDM intercommunality created the joint project company 'Océan Marais de Monts Energies' with Vendée Energie holding 60% and OMDM entering at 40%. The company plans 13 photovoltaic projects (4 MWc total, 3.3M EUR investment) across the territory: 5 building-based, 5 small canopies, 2 larger canopies, and 1 ground-mounted solar farm. First project at Soullans sports complex (330.7 kWc) targeted for summer 2026.
• Énergie en Pays des Achards (joint project company)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Vendée Energie and the Communauté de communes du Pays des Achards created the project company 'Énergie en Pays des Achards' (holding 30% of Agri Méth'Achards) to co-finance the 9.35M EUR Agri Méth'Achards methanization unit at Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups. This is the first methanization unit co-financed by an SEM and an intercommunality in Vendée. Vendée Energie holds 30% alongside 70% held by 8 local farms.
• TrivalissecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Trivalis (waste management authority for La Roche-sur-Yon area) partnered with Vendée Energie to install a 413 m2 photovoltaic installation on the roof of its waste transfer center at La Boissière de Montaigu, producing 96 MWh/year for 41 inhabitants' equivalent consumption.
• GRDFstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024GRDF operates the gas distribution network in Vendée and is the buyer and distributor of biomethane produced by Vendée's methanization units. GRDF participates in joint inaugurations of BioGNV stations (e.g., Les Herbiers station opening in November 2024 with GRDF Regional Director present). GRDF also hosts Vendée Energie photovoltaic installations on its buildings (e.g., La Roche-sur-Yon headquarters with 277 kWc installation).
• Méthagat (SAS, Fougeré)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Vendée Energie holds 10% of Méthagat, the methanization unit at Fougeré operated by GAEC La Gatelinière. The unit (45th in Vendée, 16th grid-injection unit) processes ~12,000 tonnes/year of organic waste and agricultural effluents, producing 7.15 GWh/year of biomethane — equivalent to heating 1,700 new-build homes or 32 BioGNV buses.
• Les Sables d'Olonne AgglomérationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Vendée Energie and Les Sables d'Olonne Agglomération created a joint project company to develop and finance photovoltaic installations on the agglomeration's building rooftops. Three central solar installations (132 kWc total, ~145 MWh/year) were developed via this structure at the Pôle déchets des Taffeneaux, l'Espadon, and Les Chirons vestiaires sites.
• École du Solaire (La Roche-sur-Yon)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Vendée Energie is a partner in the École du Solaire (School of Solar), a training institution opening in La Roche-sur-Yon in 2025 to train future photovoltaic installers and solar project engineers. Partners include SOG Solar, VFE, SYDEV, Atlansun (regional solar association), BTP CFA Vendée, and CNAM Pays de la Loire. Vendée Energie contributes its operational expertise to training content development.
• BioGNV Club Pays de la Loire - BretagnesecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2023Vendée Energie participates in the shared exhibition stand of the BioGNV Club Pays de la Loire - Bretagne at the Bio360 industry salon, using this platform to exchange on methanization and BioGNV mobility developments in Vendée. Olivier Loizeau, Vendée Energie Director, delivered a fuel card to BioGNV client TDC Négoce at the 2026 edition.
• Groupe K-LINE (Les Herbiers)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Vendée Energie installed 4 photovoltaic canopies (497 kWc total, 112 parking spaces) on the K-LINE industrial site at Les Herbiers. This private industrial partnership demonstrates Vendée Energie's capability to serve enterprise clients beyond the public sector.
• SYDEV (Syndicat Départemental d'Energie et d'Equipement de la Vendée)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SYDEV is Vendée Energie's founding parent organization alongside the Conseil Départemental de Vendée. SYDEV and Vendée Energie co-develop and co-invest in renewable energy projects across the territory, including the BioGNV station network, photovoltaic installations, and hydrogen distribution infrastructure. SYDEV carries hydrogen and supercharger investment while Vendée Energie builds and operates BioGNV components. SYDEV also provides technical and administrative support to municipalities (e.g., Benet's collective self-consumption scheme).
• EMYN (Éoliennes en Mer Îles d'Yeu et de Noirmoutier)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Vendée Energie entered the capital of the offshore wind farm SAS EMYN in October 2022 with a 0.5% stake valued at approximately 3.5-3.6M EUR. The EMYN project involves 62 offshore wind turbines (61 currently operational, with full commissioning in 2026) off the coast of Île d'Yeu and Noirmoutier, producing 1,900 GWh/year — equivalent to the annual consumption of 800,000 people. Vendée Energie's equity stake signals its commitment to the offshore wind component of Vendée's renewable ecosystem.
• Lycée Rosa Parks, La Roche-sur-YonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Partnership renewal (since 2018) where Vendée Energie contributes to maintenance costs of the BioGNV training truck used in the baccalauréat professionnel Transport Road Freight curriculum. The truck is equipped with an eco-driving simulator. Vendée Energie participates in training students in decarbonized mobility technologies.
• Groupe BénéteaucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Vendée Energie invested 7M EUR to install photovoltaic canopies over all 9 of Bénéteau Group's industrial site parking areas — over 4 hectares of panels producing electricity for more than 1,800 households. Allez et Cie (Bénéteau's historic electrical partner) serves as local technical installation partner. This partnership covers one of the largest private photovoltaic canopy programs in Vendée.
• LhyfecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Lhyfe is an historic shareholder in which Vendée Energie participated. Lhyfe built and operates Europe's first industrial-scale renewable hydrogen production plant at Bouin, Vendée, using seawater electrolysis powered directly by Vendée Energie's wind turbines. The factory produces 300 kg/day of green hydrogen (expanding to 1 tonne/day), which Vendée Energie distributes at its multi-energy refueling stations. Vendée Hydrogène previously invested 2M EUR in Lhyfe. This is the cornerstone partnership for Vendée's green hydrogen value chain.
• SEM Vendée ÉolienstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Vendée Éolien is Vendée Energie's subsidiary holding stakes in wind farm projects. In 2020, Vendée Energie retained 40% of the Boussay (Loire-Atlantique) wind farm through Vendée Éolien, having transferred 60% to SEM SyDELA Energies 44 per the co-development agreement. Vendée Éolien also holds interests in Vendée-based wind farms.
• Vendée GNV (subsidiary)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Vendée GNV is Vendée Energie's subsidiary company responsible for constructing and operating the BioGNV refueling station network across Vendée. Created as part of the SYDEV master plan for 6 BioGNV stations, Vendée GNV executes the distribution leg of Vendée Energie's alternative fuel strategy.
• Vendée Solaire (subsidiary)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Vendée Solaire is Vendée Energie's subsidiary focused on developing rooftop photovoltaic projects for public buildings. In 2020, Vendée Solaire developed ~40 rooftop solar projects (5.9 MWc total) primarily on public buildings, including an autoconsumption pilot at Espace La Fontaine commercial center.
• Vendée Ombrières (subsidiary)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Vendée Energie created Vendée Ombrières as a dedicated subsidiary to build and operate photovoltaic parking canopies primarily on public car parks. By 2020, ~50 projects were under study with a target of ~10 new sites per year. Vendée Ombrières also serves larger industrial parking clients.
• METHA-VIE (SAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Vendée Energie holds 13% of SAS METHA-VIE, created in 2013 alongside CAVAC, AGRIAL, BONILAIT, and agricultural collective Agriméthabel. The 263 Nm3/h methanization unit at Le Poiré-sur-Vie (operational since September 2019) produces 2.2 million m3 of biomethane annually, purchased by Vendée Energie for distribution at BioGNV stations. Vendée Energie's equity stake demonstrates its commitment to the agricultural methanization value chain.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lhyfe: Green hydrogen producer and Vendée Energie's hydrogen partner at the Bouin facility. Comparable as a French-based emerging player in renewable hydrogen production/distribution, with the same first-mover exposure to French hydrogen market development and shared customer base at multi-energy refueling stations.
• SEM SyDELA Energies 44: Syndicat d'Energie de Loire-Atlantique SEM and direct territorial counterpart of Vendée Energie. Co-developed the Boussay wind farm with Vendée Energie (which transferred 60% to SyDELA in 2020), making it a structurally and operationally comparable local SEM peer in the neighboring Pays de la Loire department.

Broad incumbents

• ENGIE Green: Subsidiary of ENGIE dedicated to onshore wind, solar, and biogas in France. Comparable as a major French renewable energy developer/operator across the same wind+solar+biogas portfolio categories as Vendée Energie, but at national scale rather than departmental.
• Neoen: French independent power producer listed on Euronext Paris, operating wind, solar, and storage assets globally. Comparable on renewable generation asset categories and IPP business model, but at substantially larger scale with international footprint.
• Voltalia: French renewable IPP (Euronext-listed) developing and operating wind, solar, hydro, and biomass projects. Comparable on the multi-technology renewable developer/operator model, though Voltalia operates at international scale versus Vendée Energie's territorial focus.
• Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR): French renewable energy producer and river concession operator with wind, solar, and hydro assets. Comparable as a long-standing French mixed-economy (public/private) energy operator with territorial anchoring, though CNR's primary asset base is hydroelectric.
• Iberdrola Renewables France: French subsidiary of Iberdrola operating wind and solar assets across France. Comparable on the French wind and solar generation model, though at substantially larger utility-scale rather than territorial-developer scale.
• TotalEnergies Renouvelables France: Renewable energy arm of TotalEnergies in France, with significant wind, solar, and biogas portfolio. Comparable on renewable energy production categories and French market positioning, but as part of a global integrated oil major's portfolio.

Others

• GRDF: French gas distribution network operator and Vendée Energie's biomethane off-take partner. Comparable as a critical infrastructure enabler in the same local gas value chain, though not a competing energy producer; included as a closely intertwined ecosystem participant.

Emerging players

• Hynamics (EDF subsidiary): EDF subsidiary producing and distributing green hydrogen for mobility and industrial use in France. Comparable on the green hydrogen distribution and refueling infrastructure model that overlaps with Vendée Energie's Bouin-sourced H2 supply at multi-energy stations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vendeeenergie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vendée-energie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Vendée Energie