Cultura entrusts the energy management of its real estate to EFICIA
Cultura entrusts the energy management of its real estate to EFICIA
Cultura, France’s leading cultural brand, has called on EFICIA, a GreenTech expert in energy management for tertiary buildings, to optimize and reduce the energy consumption of its entire real estate portfolio, comprising more than 105 stores, a warehouse and a head office.
For several years now, Cultura has been committed to reducing its CO2 emissions, in order to help combat global warming, which is a worldwide issue, and thus to organize the energy sobriety of its sites.
The company needed a partner to help it manage the energy consumption of its entire real estate portfolio. EFICIA was selected for its innovative turnkey offer, enabling the company to control and reduce the energy consumption of each building, as well as the associated carbon emissions, while taking into account the thermal comfort of its occupants, employees and customers. This unique approach convinced Cultura to carry out a several-month test on 4 of its buildings.
“We quickly saw the advantages of intelligent BMS programming and centralized management, with the possibility of adjusting to each building, while taking into account numerous factors such as the weather, occupants’ needs, indoor air quality, etc. This is an essential asset for optimizing the energy consumption of our buildings. This is an essential asset for optimizing the use of our energy resources and limiting our carbon footprint,” notes Michael Gerbaud, director of Cultura’s works, facilities, maintenance and energy department.
This test has turned into a collaboration for all the company’s existing and future buildings. Today, all Cultura’s buildings are managed by EFICIA. This collaboration is part of the energy transition to which Cultura has been committed since 2017, notably by switching all lighting in its network to LEDs.
Concrete results: 20% reduction in energy consumption
Last year, Cultura was able to estimate a reduction in energy consumption of around 20%, based on a constant model. This is largely the result of more precise, real-time management of energy consumption, better adapted to the company’s activity, with sites controlled independently or as a whole, as required.
“We’re seeing good results. What’s more, controlling our buildings has proved invaluable in the face of the constraints we’ve had to face over the last few months to comply with energy-saving recommendations, such as switching off illuminated signs or heating during the winter. EFICIA’s solution also enables us to detect malfunctions and rapidly take the necessary action to remedy them, thanks to the possibility of communicating with an energy specialist 24 hours a day,” adds Michael Gerbaud.
Beyond energy
“From this collaboration, it is essential to retain the dimension of expertise and advice that EFICIA demonstrates in supporting us on the energy question and beyond” continues Michael Gerbaud. “Not only does this enable us to guarantee our energy trajectory towards more virtuous consumption, but it also opens up perspectives for the management of other resources.”
Indeed, Cultura and EFICIA are currently working in partnership to integrate water and waste management into EFICIA’s tool, thus creating a dashboard that can further engage the company’s employees towards a more virtuous overall consumption.
Climate change is already impacting your wallet
The thermometer shows no sign of going down! This past September, many European countries recorded temperatures up to 3/4°C above seasonal normals, and the heatwave has no intention of stopping there, at least until the beginning of October.
In France, the weather was no exception. According to the experts at Météo-France, September was set to end with an average temperature of 21.5°C, i.e. “between 3.5 and 3.6°C” above the 1991-2020 reference period.
However, beyond the discomfort caused by the sweltering heat, there’s a less visible but just as burning aspect: the financial impact. At Eficia, we’ve carried out an in-depth investigation by analyzing the energy consumption data of our 3,000 managed buildings, and the direct consequences of these scorching temperatures are obvious.
Rising temperatures and the heatwave
In this long-awaited autumn, the thermometer broke all records. Abnormally high temperatures in September took many Europeans by surprise, leaving the population prey to high heat waves. The climate is becoming increasingly unpredictable, jeopardizing our seasonal habits.
Météo-France climatologist Jean Dupont points out that these excessive temperatures are no mere climatic accident. They are the tangible manifestation of climate change, which is accelerating at an alarming rate. Heatwaves are no longer an exceptional phenomenon, but a reality to which we must become accustomed. In fact, according to the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, the last five years have been the hottest since 1850.
The impact on energy consumption
The problem doesn’t stop at thermal discomfort. The impact of the heatwave is also being felt on our energy bills. Eficia, a specialist in energy management, has sounded the alarm by analyzing energy consumption data for thousands of buildings in France.
The figures are significant: Eficia has analyzed the energy consumption data of over 3,000 managed buildings, and the direct consequences of these scorching temperatures are obvious. On average, the overloading of air-conditioning systems led to a 10% increase in energy consumption compared with September 2022.
The financial cost of climate change
The financial impact of climate change should not be underestimated. For businesses, it means higher operating costs, jeopardizing the profitability of many companies. Energy costs are soaring, squeezing profit margins and complicating budget management.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Companies and individuals can take action. Rethinking energy efficiency, investing in more energy-efficient technologies and adopting eco-responsible practices are all solutions that can help mitigate the financial impact of climate change.
What’s more, efficient energy management will not only reduce operating costs for professionals, but also enable them to meet the expectations of the BACS and Tertiary Decrees more quickly. For example, an energy management solution can generate average energy savings of 20% on a building stock of supermarkets, by avoiding waste on HVAC and lighting equipment.
Today, only 6% of commercial buildings over 1,000m2 are equipped with BMS. This leaves enormous room for improvement in France, as well as huge potential for energy savings on a national scale. What are we waiting for?
Eficia, your partner for an efficient and responsible energy transition
At Eficia, we’re more determined than ever to support you in your transition to a more efficient and responsible use of energy.
Our innovative energy management solutions will enable you to meet your energy challenges by reducing your operating costs and carbon footprint, facilitating the maintenance of your facilities and improving the comfort of your occupants.
Kingfisher France chooses EFICIA to reduce energy consumption in its stores
KINGFISHER France, which brings together the Castorama and Brico Dépôt DIY and home improvement banners, has been calling on EFICIA, a Frenchtech expert in energy management for tertiary buildings, for over 5 years to support it in its objectives to reduce its energy consumption and, more globally, its carbon footprint. Since 2017, EFICIA has been piloting the energy consumption of all stores under the Castorama and Brico Dépôt banners, i.e. 215 sites in France.
A user of software to visualize the energy consumption of its stores since 2010, KINGFISHER France chose ISO 50 001 certification back in 2015 to make a lasting commitment to reducing its carbon emissions.
In 2017, KINGFISHER France accelerated its energy performance approach by turning to EFICIA to delegate the energy management of its real estate assets in France. The Kingfisher group is committed to reducing its building-related carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 38% by 2025, and to achieving zero net CO2 emissions by 2040.
Going even further in reducing its energy consumption and carbon footprint
Since 2017, an average of 40 stores a year have been equipped by EFICIA with its intelligent control solution, which includes not only the physical installation of control equipment, but also the implementation of a bespoke software platform developed by EFICIA for network employees, their awareness-raising and training in the tool.
Since 2022, 100% of Castorama and Brico Dépôt stores have been equipped, managed and controlled by EFICIA. The implementation of this property performance policy has directly contributed to the renewal of KINGFISHER France’s ISO 50001 certification twice in the last six years.
Thanks to control systems and the associated “energy intelligence services”, EFICIA and KINGFISHER France have been able to identify the most energy-intensive uses of energy, correct any deviations and rapidly and sustainably improve the energy performance of lighting, heating and air conditioning in stores. To go further, EFICIA and KINGFISHER France were able to determine the investments needed to improve energy consumption by implementing the right reduction levers, such as LED relamping and lowering heating by two degrees in its stores.
“EFICIA has been supporting us for over 5 years in our daily commitment to improving our energy consumption. With their team, we were able to anticipate the BACS Decree and the obligations of the Tertiary Decree. Thanks to the various levers deployed, we are proud to be able to say today that we have already reduced our energy consumption in our stores by 40% since 2010,” says Sandrine Lefèbvre, CSR Manager at Immobilière KINGFISHER France. “.
EFICIA is a true expert partner, with whom we work hand in hand to achieve our energy reduction targets together, without waiting for a law or decree to force us to do so. We’re well on the way to meeting this challenge, having already reduced our carbon footprint by 29% by 2022 compared with 2016,” she continues.
International collaboration
With the collaboration in France a success, the KINGFISHER Group wanted to extend it internationally by equipping its Spanish and Portuguese banners.
“When we have solutions that work, we deploy them within the group. As EFICIA is present in Spain and Portugal, it was natural for us to introduce them to our counterparts in these countries, so that they too could benefit from our partner’s energy expertise,” explains Sandrine Lefèbvre.
KINGFISHER & EFICIA’s outlook: always anticipating and innovating!
Both players are keen to do more for the environment, and both are aware that another major challenge is on the rise – that of water. They are therefore jointly considering the possibility of integrating their water consumption data into the EFICIA platform. This new functionality will enable KINGFISHER France to monitor its consumption, optimize it and identify potential leaks in its network.
Avoid the pitfalls of the BACS Decree
Convictions and best practices for a successful BACS.
The future of our planet depends in part on our ability to rethink the way we produce, use and manage energy. In this new era, the new uses of our commercial buildings occupy a central place. Once seen as mere infrastructure, our buildings are now the focus of attention, and are seen as one of the major levers for meeting the energy challenges ahead.
The advent of the intelligent building is upon us. Tomorrow, it will incorporate advanced technologies that will enable us to optimize energy consumption and the overall management of our human uses in real time, for greater productivity and greater well-being. This transformation is accelerating under the effect of regulatory imperatives (BACS/Tertiary) and growing economic pressures, making optimization of energy consumption a necessity.
In this respect, the 2020-2030 decade is a major period that will have been marked both by an energy market shaken by rate hikes, and the obligation for operators and owners of tertiary buildings in France to implement an energy management system (BMS) to reduce their consumption and achieve the objectives of the tertiary sector decree (-40% by 2030).
The multiplicity of these factors is helping to reduce our carbon footprint, and should be seen as a real boost to the ecological transition. Nevertheless, in view of the urgent regulatory requirements for professionals to rapidly equip themselves with an energy management solution (BMS), a number of questions need to be anticipated in order to succeed at this stage, which requires – let’s talk about it – sometimes substantial investments.
To avoid the pitfalls that could result from incorrect implementation of the BACS decree, professionals must ask themselves what their objectives are. This question can be summed up as: What’s a BMS for?
The essential role of BMS
Building Management Systems (BMS) are automated control systems that enable centralized management of a building’s installations and equipment. BMS technologies are increasingly used in companies to manage energy and optimize equipment consumption. In fact, BMS can help companies improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, thereby reducing the costs associated with energy consumption. In large buildings, for example, heating and air-conditioning systems sometimes operate simultaneously, irrespective of indoor and outdoor temperature, thus causing consumption to soar. Now, however, it is possible to smooth out the complexity of energy management by simply providing the necessary tools to the professionals in charge of operations.
BMS enables real-time monitoring of building equipment, data analysis and fault prediction. This enables proactive, rather than reactive, equipment maintenance. This technique is based on real-time data analysis, enabling breakdowns and failures to be predicted before they occur. This significantly reduces equipment downtime and improves building availability.
Above all, BMS is the first step in building energy management. It enables precise analysis and feedback of energy consumption data, which can help building managers make informed decisions on energy operations and implement strategies to reduce energy consumption. The results are often remarkable: according to a study conducted by Actu Environnement, implementing BMS can reduce energy consumption in buildings by up to 30%.
Democratizing access to energy data
A first conviction is essential to the success of the BACS decree: energy data must be freely accessible to all organizations. This accessibility will enable players in the real estate sector to better understand and identify their areas for improvement. By providing organizations with accurate information on their energy consumption, they will be able to make informed decisions to reduce their carbon footprint.
The first step in any energy transition project is therefore simple: to be able to visualize and understand the energy consumption of your sites. With this in mind, free tools are available that enable you to analyze and compare the energy consumption of your buildings at a glance, and issue alerts if you exceed your subscribed power.
An open BMS: a must!
Another cornerstone of success in implementing the BACS decree lies in adopting an open BMS. This means incorporating the ability to easily add IoT (Internet of Things) devices, such as water sub-meters, to more accurately monitor energy consumption.
Interoperability with future uses and business tools is also essential. An efficient BMS must be able to adapt to changes in the equipment installed base, integrating new technologies as they are developed.
The need for continuous management
A BMS, which is in fact a technical foundation, is not limited to the initial installation. To produce concrete results, it needs to be managed on an ongoing basis. This requires both human expertise and embedded intelligence. Professionals must closely monitor energy data, identify anomalies and adjust parameters accordingly to maximize energy savings.
In the key stages of your energy optimization actions, the first step is to access the data via specialized software or platforms, followed by the installation of a BMS. This is followed by expert advice and recommendations to identify and correct pockets of waste. And the ultimate step in your transition? 24/7 energy management of your buildings using intelligent algorithms.
A homogeneous BMS fleet is needed to meet tomorrow’s challenges
Finally, to succeed in your energy transition, it’s essential to have a homogeneous BMS installed base. This enables rapid, agile mass changes, such as the implementation of an energy-saving plan. What’s more, a homogeneous installed base makes it easier to control demand on a building-wide scale, thanks to mechanisms such as capacity shaving and NEBEF (Notification d’Échanges de Blocs d’Effacement), which enables consumption shaving to be traded on the electricity market. It thus provides a complementary economic space to the balancing mechanism.
What’s next? The integration of artificial intelligence tools “as we go along” will facilitate and optimize fleet-wide management.
In the face of all these challenges, external players specializing in energy management provide an effective response. They ensure precise management of equipment, activating it at the right moment. This approach not only complies with legal requirements, but also improves operational efficiency, reduces energy costs and promotes comfort in the workplace. The buildings of the future will be smarter, more economical environments, where technology and expertise come together to create an optimal working environment.
Successfully implementing the BACS decree is essential to meeting current and future energy challenges. By following the key principles of data democratization, openness, continuous piloting and homogeneity of the BMS installed base, real estate professionals can not only achieve the objectives of the tertiary decree, but also make a significant contribution to the ecological transition, while realizing significant savings. Implementing an efficient BMS is one of the major levers of our energy future.
At the dawn of a new era for commercial buildings, energy is becoming intelligent, serving both the economy and the well-being of occupants.
Charging the future: new paths for electric mobility
Today’s mobility landscape is changing rapidly, with a growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). This transition to more sustainable mobility is accompanied by a growing demand for recharging infrastructures. Among these infrastructures, charging stations, particularly those at home, are gaining in popularity. However, this expansion is accompanied by technical and logistical challenges that demand careful attention. According to recent data from La Tribune, France passed the 100,000 mark in installed electric charging stations in May. The deployment of charging stations is set to accelerate even further. President Emmanuel Macron has set the next milestone at 400,000 charging stations by 2030, with an estimated need for between 330,000 and 480,000 charging points by the end of the decade.
Sizing delivery points: a major challenge
The central question that emerges is that of sizing delivery points. With the addition of charging stations, power requirements increase substantially at a single delivery point. Network operators are therefore faced with the complex task of sizing these points to meet the specific needs generated by charging stations. To illustrate, let’s take the example of a residence with a delivery point sized at 6 kW, to which a fast-charging station is to be added. This situation requires a doubling of power to meet demand. However, increasing power is not the only possible solution.
Technological solutions and consumption shifting
Innovative technological solutions can be considered. Among these, consumption shifting shows promise. This approach involves intelligent management of recharging, so that when a vehicle is plugged in, it does not require the full power available. This clever method optimizes the use of existing infrastructure without necessarily increasing the power delivered. In this way, the costly implementation of a new delivery point can be avoided, simplifying the transition to electric mobility.
Intelligent management and control of charging stations
Managing charging points is becoming crucial for professionals with several vehicles to charge. It is essential to set up a control system to monitor and regulate power consumption. This implies the possibility of selectively switching off certain terminals to keep the total power of the site below its maximum capacity. This proactive approach ensures a balance between recharging needs and supply capacity, preventing any unwanted overruns.
The future : Bidirectional charging stations for network stability
Looking ahead, the future of electric charging stations could be marked by the introduction of bidirectional charging stations. Although proofs of concept currently exist, large-scale deployment has yet to materialize. Bi-directional charging stations have the capacity not only to charge vehicles, but also to draw energy from the batteries and redistribute it to the grid when required. This innovation could lead to the creation of a virtual “mega-battery”, enabling the grid to manage fluctuations in demand more effectively, particularly during peak hours.
According to Alric Marc, founder of EFICIA
“At EFICIA, we are able to modulate the power delivered by charging stations, offering a pragmatic response to maximum power constraints.
And with the exponential growth of electric vehicles, the expansion of charging points needs to be approached systematically and innovatively.
The intelligent sizing of delivery points, the use of technological solutions for consumption shifting, and the emergence of bi-directional charging stations are all solutions that will help to meet the challenges posed by this transition to electric mobility.
It is imperative that the players involved, whether network operators, terminal manufacturers or piloting experts, work together to build a robust and resilient electric charging network capable of supporting the future of sustainable mobility.“
Sobriety efforts: What if AI was the solution?
Over the past year or so, many of us – individuals and businesses alike – have become aware of the growing challenges posed by energy. It’s no longer just a question of its impact on our daily lives or on productivity, but also of its impact on the climate and the environment. Numerous reports alert us to this issue (the IPCC report, La Planification écologique published this month by the French government, etc.).
But despite this growing awareness, our efforts to reduce our energy consumption don’t seem to be enough. But what if the solution did not lie with man alone? What if the solution lay in a technology that already exists, a solution capable of making effective choices for the common good? What if the solution was AI?
Alric Marc, founder of EFICIA, an expert in energy management for commercial buildings and local authorities, explains: “According to the IPCC scenarios, technological progress must be an important element in achieving our low-carbon objectives and limiting global warming. And indeed, technology is omnipresent in solutions designed to support the transition to more sustainable production and consumption patterns. Among these technologies, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things are particularly promising. They make it possible to monitor and optimize the energy consumption of buildings, industries and even entire cities in real time.“
He continues: “AI has become one of the driving forces behind the energy transition, favoring the detection of key areas for optimization and helping to set investment plans to comply with BACS and Tertiary regulations. This technology makes it possible to understand and anticipate the uses of a building’s occupants, and suggest new settings. Making buildings intelligent is the quickest and least intrusive way to reduce our energy consumption, while making them easier to operate.“
Find out more about how AI can be used to benefit the energy transition and reduce your energy consumption, with Eficia.
One out of every five liters of drinking water lost in France!
On July 3, the French Academy of Technology’s report “Contribution des technologies aux besoins en ressource d’eau douce” warned of a sharp acceleration in freshwater-related problems.
This vital issue has been the focus of the French Greentech ecosystem for several years. This is the case at EFICIA, under the impetus of the major real estate networks that we have been helping to improve the energy performance of their assets for nearly 10 years, with some of the most innovative solutions on the market.
The issue of water is a new level of development and integration into our tools for more intelligent and virtuous management of this precious resource.
To date, water losses remain commonplace. UFC-Que Choisir claims that “one liter of drinking water in five is lost in France”! These losses could soon be limited by better use of data, which is not yet shared by all market operators. The opening up of this data will rapidly enable us to better manage the consumption of our real estate assets, in particular by identifying leaks and over-consumption.
Julien Bellynck, Deputy Managing Director of EFICIA, a French expert in energy management for commercial buildings and local authorities, explains: “Network operators do not share water consumption data with companies in the ecosystem, as they have no legal obligation to make this data accessible to independent third parties. If, and only if, a decree were published to make water consumption data available to any designated third party in an open standard that is easily reusable and exploitable by an automated processing system, as is the case for electricity and gas, players such as us could then offer everyone, companies and private individuals alike, a tool enabling them to monitor their water consumption and thus reduce losses of this resource whose availability is a growing concern.“
Leroy Merlin reduces energy consumption with EFICIA
Paris, June 2023 – Leroy Merlin, French market leader in home improvement, has chosen EFICIA, the FrenchTech expert in energy management for commercial buildings, to support its virtuous approach to reducing consumption across its entire real estate portfolio.
The challenge: real-time control of energy drift
After equipping its buildings with BMS and BMS systems, Leroy Merlin decided to step up the monitoring of its energy consumption by managing it in real time and controlling it remotely. In 2020, the company submitted a set of specifications to a dozen or so players, targeting this dual objective. Three were selected, including EFICIA. Over the course of a year, each of them demonstrated its solution through a POC carried out in two stores. At the end of this year of testing, during which a number of criteria were evaluated (operation, ease of reading, exchange with stores, etc.), Leroy Merlin chose EFICIA to support it in the energy management of its 144 stores, its 3 national warehouses and its head office, based in Lezennes.
“Our choice was carefully considered. We took many criteria into consideration, such as feedback from store teams, the responsiveness of energy suppliers, the quality of tools and the relationship between operational teams and technical assistance. For us, user experience is of paramount importance. And, in the face of more traditional competing systems, EFICIA’s modern spirit, with its intuitive interface and educational approach, convinced our staff to use its EMS. The financial aspect was also a decisive criterion, as EFICIA helped us to obtain financial aid for such a project“, explains Arnaud Berchon, Real Estate Technical Director at Leroy Merlin France, and head of the “Positive Real Estate Impact” CSR strategy.
Fast, real-time results
Deployment began in 2020, and today 70% of sites are equipped and monitored. By October 2023, 100% of sites will be managed by EFICIA.
To illustrate his experience, Arnaud Berchon explains: “For example, we were able to deploy our sobriety plan on all our sites extremely quickly. Thanks to EFICIA’s teams and EMS (Energy Management System), it only took us half a day for all our connected sites, whereas it would have taken weeks with local, site-by-site management.“
The project carried out with EFICIA is part of an overall energy renovation plan (relamping of all Leroy Merlin sites, insulation of buildings, elimination of gas boilers replaced by heat pumps, etc.). These combined actions have enabled the company to achieve significant reductions in its energy consumption. In 2022, Leroy Merlin was able to reduce its net energy consumption by 15% compared with the previous year. Under totally equivalent operating conditions (rough climate, opening hours, etc.), this figure would rise to 20%.
“Like many companies in the retail sector, our business is driven by figures, and with EFICIA, our energy KPI is automatic and in real time!
A collaboration with virtuous prospects beyond energy
And the collaboration with EFICIA is set to expand over the coming months as Leroy Merlin looks to tackle another resource whose future is becoming a cause for concern: water. The two players are working hand in hand on a project for connected water meters linked to EFICIA’s EMS. This will enable Leroy Merlin to monitor water consumption on its sites and be alerted in the event of an incident, so that it can take action as quickly as possible.
Eficia joins Hager Group to accelerate growth in energy management
“Bringing together the best of two worlds, a solid global business and a highly specialised innovative energy service provider.”
Sowing the seeds for the future
The energy market is booming and the future is electric. In line with Hager Group strategy, acquiring majority stakes in Eficia will enable the group to reinforce its energy management offer, delivering energy and CO2 savings to commercial segment customers, while exploring new business models. Eficia is recognised for the uniqueness of the company’s value proposition in building energy management services and remote control. Eficia will benefit from Hager Group’s reach and expertise to accelerate growth, expand internationally and address new customers’ demands. Both companies will build on their recognised know-how to develop innovative solutions to meet customers’ energy and environmental challenges.
Created in 2013, Eficia is an innovative French company specialising in energy management via remote control services for commercial buildings. A pioneer in the energy transition market, it is the first company to have developed a global and fully integrated solutions and services capable of optimising building energy systems such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting equipment in real time thanks to intelligent algorithms. A team of energy specialists available are 24/7 to advise and optimise customers’ energy consumption and comfort.
Alric Marc, CEO of Eficia comments: “It’s an important step for Eficia’s development. Our ambition was to choose an owner to support our development and share our beliefs and vision for the future. Joining Hager Group will pave the way to new growth opportunities, fed by innovative solutions to meet new energy management needs. We are fully committed to working with the group and are looking forward to joining forces to solve our customers’ most pressing energy saving needs”
The Eficia story
This service company was founded in Paris in 2013 by Alric Marc. Around 100 Eficia colleagues are joining Hager Group; the company is constantly expanding into the fast growing European market with its energy management services, with a current focus on France, Spain and Italy. Alric Marc, the founder, Julien Bellynck the Managing Director and Eficia’s experts will continue their success story, together with Hager Group.
Daniel Hager, CEO of Hager Group: “Together with Alric Marc and the management team, we are enthusiastic and fully committed to starting a successful journey together and bring innovative solutions and services to the market. Eficia will help us to grow together to shape the electrical world of tomorrow. With Eficia we bring together the best of two worlds, a solid global business with a proven business model and a highly specialised innovative service provider.”
Unusual “Tour de France” news: Riders generate enough energy to drive 39,000 km in an electric car
With just a few weeks to go before the start of the Grande Boucle on July 1, EFICIA’s teams set out to calculate the amount of energy produced by the riders.
What we know:
A study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences* estimates that a professional cyclist can produce around 400 watts of power, and therefore energy, over the course of an hour.
The Tour de France 2023 comprises 21 stages, over a total race distance of more than 3,500 kilometers. Assuming that each stage lasts around 4 hours, this means that the cyclists taking part in the Tour de France will pedal for a total of around 84 hours.
The math:
Using the above figures, the Eficia teams estimate that each cyclist** will then generate energy to the tune of around 33.6 kilowatts per hour during the Tour de France (400 W/h x 4 h/stage x 21 stages). And, assuming that the peloton comprises around 176 riders, the total amount of energy produced during the Tour de France 2023 amounts to around 5.9 megawatts hour (33.6 kWh/rider x 176 riders).
In other words, the Tour de France cyclists could produce the equivalent of what an electric car needs to travel 39,000 km (15 kWh/100km)!
*John Eric Goff, Professor of Physics, University of Lynchburg
**The power produced by cyclists depends on a number of factors, including their weight, physical condition, the difficulty of the route, weather conditions and so on. The figures given are therefore approximate estimates.