AUVERGNE-RHONE-ALPES ENERGIE ENVIRONNEMENT

Their core work

AURA-EE is a French regional energy and climate agency serving the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. They provide technical assistance and capacity building to local and regional authorities on energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and climate action planning. Their practical work centers on helping municipalities — especially small and mid-size ones — design investment strategies, implement energy performance contracts, and plan building retrofits. They act as an intermediary translating EU-level energy policy into actionable local programs.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016–2018), AURA-EE focused broadly on regional energy governance, renewable energy promotion (biogas, solar district heating), and foundational capacity building for local authorities on climate policy planning. From 2019 onward, their work sharpened toward concrete financial and contractual mechanisms — energy performance contracting, white certificates, financial engineering for building retrofits, and investment concepts for small municipalities. This shift signals a maturation from awareness-raising to implementation support, moving from "what should we do?" to "how do we pay for it and guarantee results?"

AURA-EE is moving firmly toward the financial and contractual side of energy transition — expect them to seek projects on innovative financing, performance guarantees, and ESCO market development for public buildings.

How they like to work

AURA-EE is exclusively a participant or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 94 unique partners across 26 countries, they maintain a wide European network rather than repeating with the same groups. This profile is typical of a regional agency that brings local implementation experience and policy access to large CSA consortia, rather than driving the research agenda itself.

Extensive European network of 94 unique partners across 26 countries, built entirely through Coordination and Support Actions. Their reach is remarkably broad for a regional agency, suggesting they are a trusted implementation partner that diverse consortia seek out for French regional coverage.

What sets them apart

AURA-EE combines deep knowledge of French regional energy policy with hands-on experience helping small and mid-size municipalities implement energy transitions. Unlike research institutes, they sit at the policy-practice interface — they know what tools local authorities actually need to retrofit buildings and finance energy projects. For any consortium needing a French regional implementation partner with strong municipal networks in one of France's largest regions, AURA-EE is a proven choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SMART EPC
  Their most recent project (2022–2025) and strongest signal of current direction — focuses on next-generation energy performance contracting with ICT integration and smart city applications.
• BAPAURA
  Directly named after their region (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), indicating AURA-EE played a central role in designing a building retrofit assistance program tailored to their territory.
• C-Track 50
  Their highest-funded project (EUR 247,855) tackling the ambitious goal of regional carbon neutrality by 2050 through multi-level governance.