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

[Press release] - Published on April 14, 2025 in University-Business Partnerships, Press room

The joint innovation, business model and strategy research laboratory known as L-RIMAS, was launched on January 15, 2025 with financial support from the French National Research Agency (ANR) to rethink business models around collective self-consumption. The brainchild of start-up Sween and the strategic management unit of the Montpellier Management Research Laboratory (MRM), L-RIMAS has been accredited by the DERBI competitiveness cluster.

A changing market for collective self-consumption: opportunities and challenges

In France, collective self-consumption is developing rapidly, driven by the growing desire of businesses and individuals to control their energy consumption. It involves a wide range of players (producers, consumers, local authorities, institutions, etc.) and enables several users to share locally-generated electricity. Recent regulatory changes, such as the reduction in remuneration for the sale of surpluses, the disappearance of certain resale tariffs for smaller photovoltaic installations within the framework of purchasing obligations (EDF-OA) (Decree known as "S21"), and the extension of authorized powers and perimeters, are accelerating the democratization of this model, which opens the way to more economical and responsible use of energy.

What are the viable business models for companies positioning themselves in this market? How can they capitalize on this dynamic? The energy market is still largely dominated by incumbent operators. Young companies, such as start-ups, still need to consolidate their business models to establish a sustainable foothold. Their challenge is to scale up and sustain their innovations, while guaranteeing their adoption by users.

A joint laboratory to design sustainable strategies for start-ups

This is the background to the creation of the joint research laboratory for innovation, business model and strategy (L-RIMAS). With ANR funding of over €360,000, it brings together the Montpellier management research laboratory (University of Montpellier) and start-up Sween.

It's a unique 4? year interdisciplinary project that combines human and social sciences with technological innovation to rethink business models linked to the energy transition. The ambition of L-RIMAS is to understand the specificities of the collective self-consumption market and to support start-ups in the sector in building viable and sustainable business models. To this end, research will explore opportunities for partnerships with local authorities and large companies, and the conditions for acceptance of collective self-consumption solutions. By analyzing the obstacles and levers to their adoption, both on the part of end-users and all the players in the ecosystem, L-RIMAS intends to propose concrete ways of making these innovative solutions sustainable.

In the long term, L-RIMAS aims to broaden its impact and support other start-ups with similar characteristics towards sustainable industrial models.