What is Jane and How Does It Work?
Jane is a fresh and innovative project launched in 2023 with a clear mission: to make sharing solar energy on a local scale easy and accessible for everyone. Whether you’re part of a community, a third-party investor, a property developer, or an SME generating electricity through solar panels, Jane offers a smart way to monetize your excess solar production. The service connects you with neighboring residents or buildings, allowing you to share and sell your surplus energy seamlessly. At its core, Jane’s software solutions simplify the creation and management of collective self-consumption projects, turning what used to be a complex process into something straightforward and manageable.
The Main Benefit: Unlocking the Value of Solar Energy
Solar energy is a fantastic resource, but did you know that about 25% of solar electricity production goes unused simply because it’s not consumed on-site? That’s a huge missed opportunity. Jane steps in to change that by enabling local sharing of solar energy, which means:
- 25% of solar electricity production is typically lost due to non-consumption.
- Jane’s technology helps capture this unused energy and share it with neighbors and local communities.
- Users can save money by optimizing their solar energy use and reduce their electricity bills.
- Communities can reduce their overall energy costs and promote sustainability.
- Sharing solar energy locally contributes to lowering CO2 emissions and supports cleaner energy consumption.
Understanding Collective Self-Consumption
Collective self-consumption might sound technical, but it’s actually a simple and legal framework that Jane leverages to make solar energy sharing possible. It allows people and buildings connected to the public distribution network to share locally produced electricity. Imagine your neighborhood or community pooling solar energy together — that’s the essence of collective self-consumption. It’s a win-win: you get to enjoy solar energy even if you don’t have panels yourself, and producers get to make the most of their surplus energy.
Overcoming Barriers to Solar Energy Sharing
Despite its promise, collective self-consumption faces some real challenges. For starters, administrative procedures in places like France can be a real headache, slowing down projects. Then there’s the issue of initial costs — setting up these systems isn’t cheap, which can discourage smaller communities or citizen groups from jumping in. Plus, many people just don’t know enough about the benefits or how it works, which limits interest. And let’s not forget the technological complexity — managing solar energy sharing can seem daunting without the right tools. Jane’s digital products aim to tackle all these barriers by simplifying the process and providing expert guidance every step of the way.
Jane’s Digital Solutions for Communities and Individuals
Jane offers turnkey digital solutions designed to make solar energy sharing easy for everyone. For communities, there’s a SaaS platform that streamlines the management of collective self-consumption projects, making it easier than ever to handle local solar energy. For individuals, an app is on the way that will let users share their solar electricity with neighbors, save money, and build stronger local connections. The goal? To make solar energy sharing accessible, efficient, and beneficial for all involved.
Project Impact: Supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy — by promoting local solar energy sharing.
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities — by strengthening community ties and local energy resilience.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production — by optimizing energy use and reducing waste.
- SDG 13: Climate Action — by lowering CO2 emissions through cleaner energy consumption.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals — by fostering collaboration among communities, individuals, and stakeholders.
Looking Ahead: The Future with Jane
Jane is not just about today — it’s about building a sustainable energy future. The team is hard at work developing a high-performance solar potential simulator that will help users easily assess their solar energy production and savings. This tool will empower both individuals and communities to make informed decisions and maximize their benefits. With Jane, sharing solar energy becomes more than just a technical process; it becomes a citizen act that strengthens social ties and promotes environmental responsibility. So, whether you’re a community leader or a homeowner, Jane invites you to join a movement toward energy sobriety and a greener, shared future.
