The gist Catherine MacGregor, CEO of Engie, explains the French energy group’s ambitions in the Occitanie region. Offshore wind, hydrogen, hydropower… renewable energies are multiplying projects.
You have returned from COP 28 in Dubai. Will this edition leave a lasting impression?
COP 28 is not over yet, but I am already pleased to see real enthusiasm and almost unanimous support for renewable energy. Their production must triple worldwide by 2030. There is a critical need for renewable energy to build the energy system of tomorrow. During this conference in Dubai, I wanted to convey a pragmatic message: the transition is achievable, even if the sense of urgency only needs to increase. The important thing is not to get discouraged.
Where is the floating offshore wind project in the Golfe du Lion in the Languedoc?
It is an important project, not because of its size, but because of its role. In the coming months we will install three wind turbines more than 16 kilometers off the coast of Leucate and Barcarès. Their installed capacity will be 30 megawatts, which corresponds to the annual consumption of a city with 50,000 inhabitants. This pilot park will allow us to reduce the risk of floating wind energy, which is a very interesting technology. It has the advantage of being away from the coasts and therefore more easily acceptable to the population. This park is scheduled to go into operation in 2024. We will also be a candidate for the project off Cap d’Agde.
On land, reception from wind turbines is more sensitive. Is it still possible to build onshore wind farms in France?
Yes, it is possible and it must be! Engie is the leading wind power provider in France with 211 parks and an output of 3,080 megawatts. So this is a topic that we know very well. The construction of wind farms remains possible, but must be viewed as a territorial project that is decided together with the local elected representatives and the population. We choose the location together, we limit the visual impact and the wildlife. We are currently carrying out dozens of projects in France, the financial benefits of which must benefit everyone involved. To be accepted, these projects must be flawless. And since the war in Ukraine, the French have understood that our country’s energy sovereignty is becoming increasingly central. Wind power should help us with this.
They have just inaugurated a hydrogen station at Toulouse-Blagnac airport. However, this energy still remains expensive.
Here in Toulouse we show that hydrogen is on the rise. The hydrogen filling station will primarily serve traffic within the airport, but will also be open to the public. Today, 60% of the production price of hydrogen comes from electricity costs. The more our country produces cheap electricity, the more affordable hydrogen becomes. In the meantime, this energy will require subsidies for its production or use to stimulate the market.
Engie plans to hire almost 600 people in Occitanie in 2024. In which professions?
We will recruit across all of our careers that focus on the energy transition. We have a very attractive offer for talent. We manage to recruit according to needs, even if we suffer from a lack of applications in certain technical professions. As entrepreneurs, it is our responsibility to inspire younger generations to take up technical careers. We carry out missions from middle school onwards with our employee ambassadors, who introduce the group’s professions. We also rely heavily on apprenticeships, with 7% of our 46,500 employees in France (including 3,200 in Occitania) taking part-time courses.
Will French gas bills continue to rise this winter?
Prices have relatively stabilized in recent months. Certainly at a higher level than before the Ukraine crisis, but lower than last year. We must be clear that Russia has left the European gas market, which automatically creates tensions. When temperatures are mild, prices are stable, but the slightest impact can lead to price volatility very quickly.
They operate twelve large dams in the Pyrenees opposite the SHEM*. Can hydropower increase its contribution to the energy MIX?
These dams are great facilities that need further modernization, which we are constantly doing to increase maximum performance. It is a very important source of energy for France’s sovereignty, but building new large dams seems difficult today.