New commitment contract for the energy sector to decarbonize and reindustrialize France

"The objective of this new contract is to make ecological transition a lever for industrial reconquest", explained Barbara Pompili, Minister of Ecological Transition.

This new contract follows a first contract of 2019, which she signed alongside Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Minister for Industry, representatives of the Strategic Committee for the "New Energy Systems" sector and the unions. of the sector.

The sector brings together all the industrialists involved in the energy transition (renewable energies, low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, energy efficiency, energy networks and storage). It represents 40 billion euros in turnover and 210.000 jobs in France.

"We have gigantic needs, whether nuclear or renewable, and it is even better that these needs are served by a French industry with added value", argued Ms. Pannier-Runacher.

Concretely, the text reiterates the development objectives of competitive renewable energies and emphasizes marine wind power, solar energy, hydrogen, biogas and energy storage capacities for the period 2021-2023. .

Also present at Bercy, the president of the sector strategic committee and deputy general manager of Engie, Claire Waysand, welcomed the fact that the players in the sector had succeeded in implementing 70% of the measures of the last contract signed in 2019, thanks to the involvement of around 600 contributors.

The contract signed Thursday also provides for the launch of a platform for bringing together carbon-free energy players and manufacturers.

"Our challenge is that companies do not go knocking on the door of foreign solution providers when they have people next to their industrial zone who can provide them with competitive solutions," Ms. Pannier-Runacher explained to AFP after signing.

The contract is based on the 4th future investment program announced by the State in January 2021. In particular, it must finance the government's strategy to develop innovation and pre-industrialization to the tune of 515 million euros. in the fields of photovoltaics, floating wind turbines and energy networks, said Ms. Pannier-Runacher.

The government and the industrialists agree on the need to develop training while in general, the industry is struggling to recruit qualified employees, with currently 73.000 vacant positions in industry and 225.000 future recruitment intentions.

This contract is being renewed as Emmanuel Macron announced at the end of October a series of measures intended to decarbonise and revive the industry thanks to the France Relance plan. The President of the Republic is considering in particular the construction of two electrolyser factories to become "the leader in green hydrogen".