Customers testimonies Energie de Loire
Clément JEANNIN et Grégoire PAPION
Operations Director and Managing Director
How is Energie de Loire using S4E Software to manage its strong growth and navigate the multi-asset era?
Énergie de Loire (EDL) plays a key role in Northwestern France’s energy transition through its unique, integrated model. The company manages the entire value chain for medium-scale plants, from project development to operations.
EDL has relied on S4E Software’s Energysoft platform for nearly six years, starting back in 2020. As it scales up to keep pace with a fast-changing industry, EDL has chosen to renew its trust in its long-standing partner. Here is a look inside a strategic partnership.
Could you tell us about Energie de Loire’s activities and what gives you a competitive edge in the market?
As a fully integrated global player, we build, maintain, and operate solar plants, EV charging and energy storage units. Our projects range from small-scale tens of kW installations to multi-MW sites, all managed from our head office in Candé and our regional branch in Guérande, and located across Brittany, Pays de la Loire, and surrounding areas.
Our true strength lies in our proximity. We deploy dedicated local teams (sales managers, project leads, site managers, and technicians) directly in each region for reliable and long-term support. By combining local presence with close client relationships, we design tailored solutions that match each actual need of our clients.
What are the main technical and strategic challenges you are facing today?
Our main challenge was managing rapid growth: between 2023 and 2026, we went from around 100 power plants to more than 1,000 operationel sites. To sustain this momentum, four strategic priorities guide our decision-making:
- Data reliability for predictive maintenance
AI is everywhere right now, but it’s useless without flawless data. Our goal is to detect underperformance as early as possible to be able to automate analysis and transition from reactive maintenance to predictive maintenance.
- Multi-asset monitoring
We no longer monitor only solar panels but we monitor integrated ecosystems combining storage, EV charging units, and energy management. This significantly increases both data volume and operational complexity.
- Redefining peak performance
It is no longer simply a matter of generating as many kWh as possible on a continuous basis. Today, it requires smart control and aggregation to generate, store, grid-feed, or consume energy at the right time and the right price to maximize value.
- Operational efficiency
Scaling up without linearly increasing headcount requires relying on flexible, interconnected, and automated softwares. It also allows our teams to focus on high-value-added tasks.
How do you see the solar market evolving over the next few years?
The market is undergoing a major strategic shift. Until recently, the top priority was to install as many kWp as possible and to maximise availability.
Today and tomorrow, the priority is to generate power when the grid, the region, or the end user actually needs it most.
The key challenge now lies in gaining a better understanding of electricity usage patterns and consumption profiles. Thiswill allow us to adapt the design and smart management of our plants, storage facilities and charging infrastructure.
Partnering with S4E Software since 2020, you have once again chosen to place your trust in us. In what ways does this decision drive your strategic growth?
After Having worked with S4E Software for nearly six years, Energysoft has proven to be key partner in the success of our operations. The partnership relies first and foremost on data continuity and reliability: Energysoft seamlessly retrieves and structures raw data, giving us the reliable foundation we need as an operator.
The platform also stands out for its responsiveness and product agility, S4E Software has developped a tool that evolves fast and keeps pace with market realities, as proven by their swift rollout of flexibility and curtailment features.
More than just a software editor, S4E Software is a true co-creation partner. Key features such as automation, advanced analytics, storage, EV charging, multi-asset management and aggregation are at the heart of their roadmap.
Finally, this partnership is built on shared values and a close working relationship, thanks to a shared corporate culture based on responsiveness and attentiveness and supported by strong local connections between our regional teams.
