The local energy and climate agency of the Pays de Rennes

What The local energy and climate agency of the Pays de Rennes does

ALEC du Pays de Rennes (Agence Locale de l'Énergie et du Climat du Pays de Rennes) is a French non-profit association founded in 1997 and headquartered at 104 Bd Georges Clemenceau, Rennes, operating as a public-interest energy and climate advisory agency for the Pays de Rennes territory in Brittany. It delivers free, independent advisory services across four primary segments: individuals (renovation guidance, water conservation, consumption reduction), municipalities (Conseil en Énergie Partagé / CEP, PCAET climate plans, CEE valorization, renewable heat financing via the Fonds Chaleur / CCRt program), social housing providers and co-ownerships (écoTravo Copro program), and businesses (PACTE program, audits, employee mobilization). Revenue is sourced from public subsidies — ADEME, Région Bretagne, Rennes Métropole, SDE35, Collectivité Eau du Bassin Rennais, EU FEDER — and from membership fees of participating municipalities; all end-user services are delivered at no charge.

The agency's service portfolio combines human advisory, training, and educational tools. Core programs include the CEP shared-energy service for local authorities, écoTravo Copro for collective-housing renovation, the Fonds Chaleur renewable heat financing program (delivered through three successive CCRt cycles, 2018-2020, 2021-2023, 2024-2027, with 57 projects completed and 21.6 GWh in the current cycle target), the ECODO water-recovery training stream, a mobility advisory service, and a set of serious games and digital tools (MyCO2, Fresque de la rénovation, 'Pièces à conviction', 'Venir voir la vie ici en 2100'). Distribution is multi-modal: a central HQ plus three permanence offices (Liffré, La Bouëxière, Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier), webinaires since 2021, on-site community events (Printemps Citoyen, neighborhood festivals), and an active resource center and social media presence. The 2024 adoption of a formal projet associatif codified its raison d'être and five core values (general interest, care for living things and planet, social justice, audacity, cooperation). Documented impact includes 6 GWh of energy saved, 1,300+ tonnes of CO2 avoided through municipal sobriety plans, 20 GWh/year of renewable heat production from completed projects, and €20M of investment mobilized against €6.8M of aid provided to project holders.

Name

The local energy and climate agency of the Pays de Rennes

Legal name

ALEC du Pays de Rennes

Website

https://alec-rennes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ALEC du Pays de Rennes is a French non-profit energy and climate agency (founded 1997, ~11-50 staff) that delivers free, independent advisory services to individuals, municipalities, social housing providers, and businesses across the Pays de Rennes territory, funded by public subsidies from ADEME, Région Bretagne, Rennes Métropole, and member municipalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy and Climate Advisory Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

akta.pro primary industry

NEPA/EA/EIS & Public Consultation (EUAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Energy renovation advisory
• Climate action consulting
• Renewable energy services
• Sustainable mobility advisory
• Public energy planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Rennes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public subsidies and membership fees: As a non-profit association/public interest agency, ALEC du Pays de Rennes is funded through a combination of public subsidies from ADEME, regional council, Rennes Métropole, and other public bodies, plus membership fees from participating municipalities and organizations. Services to end users (individuals, businesses, municipalities) are provided free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ALEC du Pays de Rennes is a non-profit local energy and climate agency (association loi 1901) that provides free, independent, and neutral advisory services on energy renovation, climate adaptation, renewable energy, water conservation, and sustainable mobility. It operates as a one-stop information and guidance center combining the Espace Conseil France Rénov' and France Mobilités functions for the Pays de Rennes territory in Brittany, France. The agency serves individuals, municipalities, social housing providers, property syndicates, developers, and businesses.

Product overview

ALEC du Pays de Rennes is a local energy and climate agency providing advisory services, training, and educational tools rather than a software product. The organization's portfolio includes shared energy advisory (CEP) for local authorities, ecoTravo Copro for co-ownership renovation, the Fonds Chaleur renewable heat financing program, free webinars, a resource center with publications and guides, training programs on rainwater harvesting, mobility advisory services, and various serious games and educational tools (Fresque de la rénovation, MyCO2, Venir voir la vie ici en 2100, Pièces à conviction). These services work together to provide comprehensive support for individuals, businesses, and local authorities on energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate adaptation, and sustainable practices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• écoTravo Copro: A program for co-ownership energy renovation providing free advice, methodological and technical support, and financial aid for private co-ownerships on Rennes Métropole.
• Conseil en Énergie Partagé (CEP)

Products and services

• Espace Conseil France Rénov' (Energy Renovation Advisory)

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000,000 kWh energy saved through municipal sobriety plans
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ADEME (Agence de la transition écologique)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024National agency for ecological transition providing funding and strategic direction for ALEC activities including the Contrat Chaleur Renouvelable territorial (CCRt) program. Co-finances renewable energy projects and climate adaptation initiatives on the Pays de Rennes territory.
• SDE35 (Syndicat Départemental d'Énergie d'Ille-et-Vilaine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2024Departmental energy union partnering on renewable heat projects and agrivoltaism initiatives. Co-signatory of CCRt agreements and collaborator on energy planning for municipalities.
• Rennes MétropolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan authority providing strategic direction and co-financing for ALEC activities including climate conferences, PCAET support, and neighborhood transition programs.
• Collectivité Eau du Bassin Rennais (CEBR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management authority partnering on water conservation initiatives including rainwater recovery programs, training, and technical support for project holders. Co-funds ECODO program.
• Breizh ALEC (Regional network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional network of local energy and climate agencies coordinating activities across Brittany, including the Relais Breizh ALEC program for climate adaptation.
• CIREN (Coopérative Citoyenne d'Énergie Renov)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitizen energy cooperative collaborating on solar energy workshops and collective self-consumption projects.
• Territoires PublicscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization co-animating ecoTravo Copro program for collective housing renovation support alongside ALEC and ADIL.
• ADIL (Agence Départementale d'Information sur le Logement)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHousing information agency collaborating on ecoTravo Copro program providing legal and housing expertise for collective renovation projects.
• Ehop (Carpooling)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMobility partner collaborating on sustainable transportation initiatives and carpooling promotion.
• Keolis RennesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transportation operator receiving ALEC support for carbon ambassador program and employee climate awareness.
• CAPEB (Confédération de l'Artisanat et des Petites Entreprises du Bâtiment)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuilding trades confederation partnering on rainwater recovery training for craftspeople and professionals.
• Espacil HabitatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial housing provider receiving passive building training and property management education from ALEC.
• ARCS (Association Rennaise des Centres Sociaux)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial centers association collaborating on inclusive ecology outreach in priority neighborhoods.
• BUG (Bretagne Urgences Écologiques)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental association partnering on eco-responsible practices training for Rennes associations.
• Ville de RennescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Rennes providing funding and partnership for association support programs and neighborhood transition initiatives.
• Unis-CitéminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCivic service organization providing volunteers for citizen engagement animations during Printemps Citoyen.
• CLCV (Consommation, Logement et Cadre de Vie)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsumer association partnering on housing information and energy/water conservation outreach.
• PIMMS (Point d'Information Médiation Multi Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial mediation service participating in neighborhood energy/water awareness events.
• Val d'Ille-Aubigné Community of CommunesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntercommunal partner receiving ALEC support for rainwater recovery training and photovoltaic workshops.
• Liffré-Cormier CommunautéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntercommunal partner hosting ALEC permanence offices and receiving energy renovation support.
• Pays de Châteaugiron CommunautéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntercommunal partner receiving ALEC support for enterprise energy transition workshops.
• ALEC des Vallons de VilainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister agency in neighboring territory collaborating on climate adaptation projects including serious game development.
• Quartier 9 (Rennes)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNeighborhood association receiving ALEC support for ecological transition planning and community animations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• France Rénov': National public service for home energy renovation guidance in France (successor to the Espace Info Energie / FAIRE networks). Broad incumbent in the same space: provides free renovation advisory to households, often delegated to local operators including ALECs. Comparable offering to ALEC's renovation guidance for individuals and social housing.
• ADEME (Agence de la transition écologique): National French agency for ecological transition, ALEC's principal public funder and CCRt co-signatory. Broad incumbent: operates at national scale, sets policy and funds territorial operators like ALEC; comparable in mission on energy/climate transition, but at very different scale and with a fundamentally different role (funder vs. implementer).
• Engie Solutions: Large French energy services company operating district heating networks and energy efficiency services; collaborates with ALEC on educational activities. Broad incumbent: overlaps with ALEC on municipal energy projects, but as a commercial operator with very different incentives.

Direct peers

• Hespul: French non-profit association specializing in renewable energy and energy efficiency advisory and advocacy, headquartered in Lyon. Direct peer in the French energy-transition NGO space, with comparable mission (independent energy advisory, support for territorial energy planning) though without the local permanence-office model.
• ALEC du Pays de Brest: Another Brittany-based local energy and climate agency covering the Pays de Brest. Direct peer: same ALEC model (non-profit providing free energy/climate advisory to municipalities, individuals, and businesses) within the same regional network (Breizh ALEC).
• Energ'iV: Regional energy agency for Brittany providing renewable energy expertise to businesses, in partnership with ALEC du Pays de Rennes. Direct peer in the regional energy advisory ecosystem, with overlapping offerings on renewable energy project support.
• ALEC des Vallons de Vilaine: Sister local energy and climate agency covering the Vallons de Vilaine territory in Brittany. Directly comparable to ALEC du Pays de Rennes as a neighborhood-level public-interest energy advisory agency; they are formal co-development partners (e.g., serious game "Venir voir la vie ici en 2100", FEDER-funded climate adaptation).
• ALEC de la Métropole Nantaise: Local energy and climate agency for the Nantes metropolitan area in Pays de la Loire. Direct peer: comparable mission (free advisory on energy renovation, renewable heat, climate planning), comparable public-interest non-profit structure, comparable mix of individual/municipality/business segments.
• CLER Réseau pour la transition énergétique: National French network of local energy and climate actors (the umbrella under which the ALEC model sits). Direct peer as a network operator coordinating ALECs and similar local agencies on energy transition; comparable in mission (territorial energy transition support, training, advocacy).

Emerging players

• Negawatt: French non-profit association producing independent analysis, scenario reports and advocacy on energy transition and sobriety. Adjacent peer: comparable non-profit, mission-aligned identity, but focused on national-level scenario work and advocacy rather than local territorial implementation like ALEC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLJiIN7JysltZKs0p-ktTtw
• Facebookfacebook.com/alecrennes
• Instagraminstagram.com/alec_rennes
• Xx.com/ALEC_Rennes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alec-du-pays-de-rennes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The local energy and climate agency of the Pays de Rennes