A new joint laboratory at the University of Montpellier to rethink energy business models

[Press Release] - Published on April 14, 2025 in Press Room, University-Industry Partnerships

The joint research laboratory for innovation, business models, and strategy, known as L-RIMAS, was launched on January 15, 2025, with financial support from the French National Research Agency Research ANR) to rethink business models centered on collective self-consumption. Born out of a collaboration between the startup Sween and the strategic management division of the Montpellier Research in Management (MRM) laboratory, L-RIMAS is accredited by the DERBI competitiveness cluster.

The Evolving Market for Collective Self-Consumption: Opportunities and Challenges

In France, collective self-consumption is growing rapidly, driven by a growing desire among businesses and individuals to take control of their energy consumption. It involves a wide range of stakeholders (producers, consumers, local governments, institutions, etc.) and enables multiple users to share locally generated electricity. Recent regulatory changes, such as the reduction in compensation for the sale of surplus electricity or the elimination of certain feed-in tariffs for the smallest photovoltaic installations under the purchase obligations (EDF-OA) (the so-called “S21” Decree) or the expansion of authorized capacities and scopes, are accelerating the widespread adoption of this model, which paves the way for a more economical and responsible use of energy.

What are the viable business models for companies entering this market? How can they capitalize on this momentum? The energy market remains largely dominated by incumbent operators. New entrants, such as startups, still need to solidify their business models to establish a lasting presence. Their challenge, therefore, is to scale up and ensure the long-term viability of their innovations by securing user adoption.

A collaborative lab to develop sustainable strategies for startups

It was against this backdrop that the Joint Research Laboratory for Innovation, Business Models, and Strategy (L-RIMAS) was established. Thanks to over €360,000 in funding from the ANR, it brings together the Montpellier Management Research Laboratory (University of Montpellier) and the startup Sween.

This is a unique, four-and-a-half-year interdisciplinary project that combines the humanities and social sciences with technological innovation to rethink economic models related to the energy transition. L-RIMAS aims to understand the specific characteristics of the collective self-consumption market and to support startups in the sector in developing viable and sustainable business models. To this end, research will explore opportunities for partnerships with local governments and large corporations, as well as the conditions for the acceptance of collective self-consumption solutions. By analyzing the barriers and drivers to their adoption—both from the perspective of end users and all stakeholders in the ecosystem—L-RIMAS aims to propose concrete pathways to ensure the long-term viability of these innovative solutions.

In the long term, L-RIMAS aims to expand its impact and support other startups with similar characteristics in developing sustainable business models.