“Sovereignty and resilience of an ‘urban common’ through renewable energy.”
Who are you — and what’s happening at your lab?
La Friche la Belle de Mai is a major cultural and social hub in Marseille, housed in a 45,000m² former tobacco factory. Managed as a Cooperative Society of Collective Interest (SCIC), it brings together nearly 90 members — artists, residents, institutions, and associations. The space includes performance halls, gardens, a rooftop, exhibition spaces, and more. It operates not just as a venue, but as a shared urban ecosystem where creativity, collaboration, and community intersect every day.
What kind of local story are you part of?
Located in one of Europe’s poorest neighbourhoods, La Friche is shaped by both economic pressure and emerging energy policy. Marseille’s move towards positive energy strategies offers fertile ground for experimentation. A first energy pilot with Enercoop has already taken place, and now La Friche is poised to expand, anchoring an energy community within a cultural context.
What do you hope to achieve through Co-PED?
Our goal is to create a clear path for ecological redirection — aligning culture with environmental responsibility and social equity. Through Co-PED, we aim to increase energy autonomy, promote sustainable practices, and foster a collective vision where ecological transition is driven by culture and shared values.
How will you make it happen?
An internal coordination body will lead feasibility studies from within La Friche. Prototypes will be tested through workshops with SCIC employees, then reviewed by governance bodies including the CG POU. Territorial cooperation tools will guide community engagement. This process will help define energy models that reflect La Friche’s cooperative values while responding to broader regional needs.
Who are your allies in all this?
La Friche itself is a cooperative of workers, cultural actors, and residents. Marseille Municipality is a key public partner. Expert support comes from DOMENE scop and URBAN ECO scop, who guide feasibility and decision-making. Our energy partner is Enercoop, a cooperative energy supplier rooted in citizen participation and renewable energy. Together, these partners form a strategic network for change.
What kind of change do you want to see?
We aim to produce solar energy for self-consumption, reduce reliance on external resources, and foster local resilience. Possible impacts include:
– Shared savings and reinvestment
– A new fund for artistic creation
– Social pricing for neighbourhood energy users
– A community empowered by and through energy
This is about autonomy, redistribution, and cultural sustainability.
And finally — your motto for Co-PED?
“Sovereignty and resilience of an ‘urban common’ through renewable energy.”
sharing is caring! share this with others:
Co-PED investigates the potential of social and cultural centers as catalysts for positive energy districts, nurturing a just energy transition that includes local communities.
Co-PED is dedicated to inclusion and gender diversity and therefore implemented a gender and diversity policy
EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP
Policy Analysis Report at regional, national, and European levels, assessing existing policies.
Policy Briefs at the intersection of cultural, real estate, urban development, and energy policies.
Policy Roundtable Events, including six events across the co-applicant countries.
Strategic Guidelines for municipalities on the implementation of energy communities.
Capacity Building and Training Program for policymakers and civil society, promoting energy justice.
Structuring Study for a European cooperative company, including articles of association and relevant legislation.
