The French SME Voltalis produces a thermostat allowing to save energy. A niche that should gain importance at the start of the school year, in a context of reducing Russian gas deliveries.
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“We are asking citizens an effort, said on Wednesday July 20, Olivier Véran, the government spokesperson, when the European Commission has, the same day, just present a plan to prepare the member countries to Speaking from Russian gas. Each energy that we are able to save today today is the energy that we will be sure of being able to have the next fall and winter. “
However, “one of the main economy deposits this winter will be electric heating”, recalls Mathieu Bineau, director general of Voltalis, indicating that in these coldest months, its use represents 67 % of the Individual electricity bill. With its small intelligent thermostats, capable of modulating the consumption of electric heating, its SME with 200 employees (and 300 external) now sees, in these times of imperative sobriety, its time. “When we created the company [in 2006], we do not interest many people. Today, many large groups and regulators, including foreigners, come to see us,” said the engineer, savoring this reversal of the ‘History.
“Place for several actors”
To reduce consumption, its method is simple. It consists of installing thermostats – not larger than an identity card – near the radiators, in order to interrupt the heating for a few minutes when the electrical system needs it. “The temperature can drop by 0.1 degrees, underlines the business owner. For the user, it is imperceptible and this can allow him to achieve up to 15 % savings, or 300 euros on an invoice average annual of 2,000 euros. “
Until then little forward, this system was mainly promoted by local authorities, through graceful installations. In the space of two years, the company has equipped nearly 150,000 homes, and 1 million radiators. Essentially in individuals, but also within small buildings in the tertiary sector; hairdressers, law firms or town halls or schools. To this end, Voltalis has invested 250 million euros to develop the product and install it, and is now remunerated by RTE, the manager of the electrical transport network, for the savings it allows.
“RTE pays Voltalis instead of turning a thermal power plant for each non -consumed megawatt, explains Mathieu Bineau. This also makes it possible to lower prices for everyone, insofar as these power plants that the ‘We should have opened at peak times that fix the prices paid on the markets. “Everything has its imperative to smooth peaks, at peak hours, this winter, the network manager will have at heart, among other tracks, to promote This strategy of “erasure of consumption” to save money. Both in the industrial sector and that of the residential.
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