Hundreds of renewable energy workers gathered to defend their jobs

"Today, we are mobilizing for our jobs, to say stop to irresponsibility, to the lack of direction on energy policy," said Simon Billaud-Curvale, spokesperson for the organizers and head of public relations at Valorem, a pioneer in renewable energies in France.

"We need to regain visibility. Our jobs are threatened," he continued, during the rally in Paris, organized to "denounce the increasing number of job cuts and the lack of a clear political direction on the energy transition."

The government is due to publish by decree this week the Multiannual Energy Programme, or PPE, which determines for the next 10 years the share of energy produced according to the sectors (nuclear, renewable, hydrogen...).

This document, repeatedly delayed due to political antagonisms over the place of nuclear and renewables in the French energy mix, is crucial for industrialists who need visibility to invest and hire.

Worried about a possible slowdown in solar and wind power, industry representatives left a meeting on Friday with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reassured, but they are waiting to find out the precise content of the PPE.

"We are pleased with the positive signal of the announcement of a multi-year energy plan," says Simon Billaud-Curvale, who is delighted that the government has ruled out a moratorium on renewables. "That's excellent news," he says. "But we still don't have the details of the decree."

In the demonstration on the esplanade of the Invalides near the National Assembly, slogans such as "We want a PPE, not a PSE" (job protection plan) or "More wind and solar? For sure", in reference to Emmanuel Macron's viral speech in Davos, were visible on the placards.

The rally was organized at the initiative of the works councils of several companies in the sector (including APEX Energies, Akuo, Abo Energy, EDF Power Solutions, EDPR France, ENOE, etc.). Another was scheduled to take place at the same time in front of the prefecture building in Montpellier.