5 resources on renewable energy charters
April 2025
Territoires à Energie Positive (TEPOS)
Developing a charter at the departmental or inter-municipal level is an interesting solution for framing the development of renewable energies, co-constructing a shared vision and collectively identifying desirable projects for the territory. Here are five resources to help you better understand this tool, its strengths and its limitations.
To download : charte-enr-validee-23_09_2022-1.pdf (2 MiB)
1- Territorial charters and guides for renewable energy development: advantages and limitations
Summary of the main lessons learned from a comparative analysis of territorial charters and guides designed to provide a framework for the development of renewable energy, carried out as part of a final thesis. Good overview of what these charters can be used for, and several recommendations on how to draft these documents.
2- Framing the development of renewable energy with a regional charter
How can we build a shared vision for the local development of renewable energy, and how can we transform it into a framework that can be applied by project developers? Nicolas Gayet and Alban Aubert from Quercy Énergies (the Local Energy and Climate Agency for the Lot department) explain how they helped draft several charters in the Lot department.
3- The citizen energy project label
Renewable energy production projects that prioritise the interests of the local area should be encouraged and promoted. Supported by ADEME, the Énergie Partagée label is the only label that certifies the quality of renewable energy installations in the regions where they are located, based on a set of precise specifications. The label is accompanied by sector-specific charters: ground-mounted photovoltaic, hydroelectricity and methanisation.
4- National wind energy charter for local authorities and professionals in favour of coordinated regional development
AMORCE and France Renouvelables have jointly defined the conditions for cooperation between wind energy developers and local authorities, specifying the mutual commitments to be respected at the various stages of a project (pre-planning, development, operation). The 2015 charter was updated at the end of 2022.
5- Examples of local charters
A selection of local examples to inspire you:
The Ouest Aveyron Communauté charter, the result of a three-month co-construction process, which ‘aims to accompany, support and facilitate the development of industrial renewable energy projects in the Ouest Aveyron Communauté area’ (wind, solar and methanisation). It sets out the commitments of the local authority and the project developer, as well as recommendations for industrial renewable energy projects in terms of preserving the living environment, environmental requirements and the end of life of installations. In return for the commitments expected from project developers, the local authority has put in place an exemplary process for welcoming and monitoring projects.
The charter of the Grands Causses Regional Nature Park, which aims to become an energy-positive region by 2040. To achieve this, the region must increase the amount of renewable energy it produces by 2.4 times compared to 2017. In order to plan and regulate the development of renewable energy projects while meeting this ambitious target, the 2024-2039 Park Charter sets out guiding principles and specific installation rules, particularly for wind power (zoning and maximum ‘acceptable’ heights).
The charter of the Piège Lauragais Malepère Community of Municipalities, which is pursuing the goal of becoming an energy-positive territory by 2050. This charter is designed as a ‘tool for dialogue available to the 38 municipalities in the territory’ and project developers. Its aim is to facilitate ‘understanding by all of the technical and financial issues and the integration of renewable energy projects’. The commitments to be met at each stage of a renewable energy project are set out in detail (upstream, development, construction, operation). Installation rules for each sector are also specified.