Authors : Charlotte Stalder, EA, Florence Schmidt, Romande Energie
As the energy transition intensifies, distribution system operators (DSOs) face an unprecedented paradox: supporting their customers’ decarbonisation… while keeping a handle on the increase in emissions linked to their own activities.
This is the challenge that Romande Energie has chosen to take on, with the support of EA Earth Action. A look back at a structuring project, balancing strategic vision with operational action.
A structural challenge at the heart of the energy model
EA Earth Action
Your business model places you in a particular situation. Can you explain this paradox?
Romande Energie
“Romande Energie’s challenge is to reduce its own emissions while expanding its renewable energy production, its energy services and its real estate renovation solutions in order to help its customers decarbonise,” explains Florence Schmidt, Group Head of Sustainability.
In other words, the more we help our customers reduce their emissions, the more some of our activities – particularly those linked to infrastructure and the development of energy production – may generate additional emissions in the short term.
Navigating a complex environment
EA Earth Action
What were the main challenges you encountered?
Romande Energie
We face several simultaneous constraints:
- the urgency of decarbonisation
- the growing complexity of regulatory developments
- pressure on energy prices
- ever-higher customer expectations in terms of simplicity and reliability
- the flexibility of infrastructure assets
On top of this comes a structuring challenge: reconciling energy growth with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Between the requirements of the Science Based Targets initiative (a reduction of around 40%) and those of Swiss legislation (up to 50%) by 2030, the task is to steer a profound transformation without holding back development.
Making sustainability a strategic lever
EA Earth Action
How does sustainability fit into your overall strategy?
Romande Energie
“In 2025, Romande Energie firmly reaffirms that sustainability is a decisive strategic lever for guiding our performance in the short, medium and long term,” states François Fellay.
Our approach rests on three interdependent pillars — societal, environmental and economic — which underpin all our decisions and projects.
Ambitious and aligned commitments
EA Earth Action
What are your concrete commitments?
Romande Energie
Our climate strategy is aligned with Swiss and cantonal regulatory requirements:
- Scopes 1 & 2: 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 (2023 baseline), with a net-zero trajectory by 2050
- Scope 3: mobilising the value chain and continuously improving practices
A key point concerns our financial shareholdings, particularly in Alpiq, which accounts for a major share of our carbon footprint. Their climate trajectory is therefore a decisive lever.
Structuring decisions in an uncertain environment
Romande Energie
What was EA Earth Action’s role in this process?
EA Earth Action
Our objective was clear: to transform complexity into actionable decisions.
We put in place a structured approach combining:
- technical analysis of decarbonisation levers
- modelling of environmental impacts
- economic assessment and operational feasibility
This approach made it possible to provide a clear picture of priorities and to align climate strategy with business constraints.
From ideation to action: a collective mobilisation
EA Earth Action
How did you build your transition plans?
Romande Energie
We organised an unprecedented collaborative process:
- 6 decarbonisation workshops
- 45 participants from all business units
- 15 evaluation sessions with experts
- 7 validation sessions with management
In total:
- 190 solutions identified
- 45 priority actions selected
These actions were analysed against three key criteria: environmental impact, economic feasibility and social acceptability.
Concrete and structured transition plans
EA Earth Action
What are the priority focus areas that emerge?
Romande Energie
Our transition plans are structured around six key sectors:
- Heat: replacing fossil fuels with renewables
- Networks: reducing emissions linked to losses and modernising equipment
- Electricity: optimising the energy mix
- Real estate: eco-design, circularity of materials, bio-based materials and neighbourhood-scale renovation
- Digital: extending the lifespan of equipment, digital sobriety, cloud solutions
- Mobility and value chain: increasing the share of electric vehicles, promoting sustainable practices and eco-design, growing sustainability requirements in our tendering processes
Each business unit now has its own operational roadmap from 2026 onwards.
An impact beyond strategy
EA Earth Action
What has concretely changed as a result of this approach?
Romande Energie
“The objectives set are based on robust data. We have also internalised the process of establishing our greenhouse gas inventory, thereby strengthening the accuracy and control of the associated data,” notes Florence Schmidt.
Beyond the figures, it is above all the ability to understand, decide and act quickly in a complex environment that has been strengthened, along with a clear focus on specific areas to keep our trajectory on track.
Catalysing climate action
Romande Energie
How do you view this collaboration?
EA Earth Action
This project is a perfect illustration of our conviction: rigorous technical analysis is an accelerator of transformation.
By structuring choices and providing an objective basis for trade-offs, we have contributed to:
- securing the climate trajectory
- aligning stakeholders
- triggering concrete actions at the heart of business operations
A clear ambition for the future
Romande Energie
We aim for excellence across all our areas of activity in order to implement pragmatic, high-impact actions today.
Our commitment rests on a clear-eyed assessment of costs and benefits, in service of our purpose:
“Connecting our energies to accompany our region towards a sustainable future.”
What’s next?
EA Earth Action
We are continuing this commitment alongside DSOs today, through a collaborative project aimed at:
- harmonising the decarbonisation of electricity and heat mixes
- improving the quantification of avoided emissions
A key challenge for accelerating the energy transition at system scale.