Attributes: Building the digital future of energy commodities
- Article
- 03/09/2025
Transforming the energy market through data—that has been the mission of Attributes (formerly TEO – The Energy Origin) since its creation. This start-up, originally launched as an internal ENGIE project, enables energy players to digitize the origin and environmental attributes of their physical products, creating a market that is more transparent, resilient, and innovative.
“We want every energy product to carry with it a ‘digital identity card.’ This completely transforms the way the market values energy,” explains Thierry Mathieu, co-founder of Attributes.
This digital approach opens the door to new business opportunities and enhanced regulatory compliance, such as pricing mechanisms linked to emissions. It also helps strengthen supply security and supports the emergence of new financial products like emissions-adjusted pricing. The platform is already live for natural gas, LNG, and hydrogen, and is working with major players including ENGIE and Equinor.
From internal project to global start-up
Attributes began in 2019 as an incubated project within ENGIE with the goal of testing and validating its solutions in real markets. From the outset, the project secured landmark deals: green power with Air Products and ENGIE Mexico, natural gas certifications for Chevron in the US, and for Gaznat and Wien Energy in Europe.
“Being incubated within ENGIE allowed us to test our solutions in real-world markets and build strong credibility,” recalls Nicolas Leriche, co-founder of Attributes.
In 2023, Equinor Ventures expressed interest in becoming a shareholder, marking a strategic milestone and validating the business model while paving the way for international expansion.
Transforming the energy market through data—that has been the mission of Attributes (formerly TEO – The Energy Origin) since its creation. This start-up, originally launched as an internal ENGIE project, enables energy players to digitize the origin and environmental attributes of their physical products, creating a market that is more transparent, resilient, and innovative.
By 2025, what started as a simple idea had evolved into a fully independent company: Attributes SAS, with four main shareholders—ENGIE, Equinor, APV, and SFV. A €6 million fundraising round is fueling accelerated development and building the digital backbone of the energy commodities market.
For ENGIE, this journey illustrates the potential of internal innovation to generate global impact. As Henri Domenach, Managing Director of ENGIE Supply & Energy Management, highlights: “ENGIE believes collaboration and innovation are essential to building a low-carbon future. Our involvement in Attributes reflects our commitment to digital solutions that increase transparency and create value across the entire energy ecosystem.”
Katherine Peachey, Head of Equinor Ventures, adds: “Equinor Ventures is pleased to invest in Attributes, which is developing digital tools to support certification in energy markets. High-quality, verifiable information on energy sources is essential to achieving the energy transition.”
A blockchain platform serving the market
Attributes is more than a digital start-up: it is a digital infrastructure designed to become the backbone of energy commodities, securing ESG data through blockchain. Its platform tracks all information related to transactions, adapting to evolving regulatory and legal frameworks to ensure, among other things, traceability in line with the latest European Commission rules.
Its mission is structured around three key pillars:
- Traceability and Transparency: Every energy product can be identified and certified according to its origin and emissions.
- Commercial Value Creation: Data allows companies to capture price premiums and offer differentiated solutions.
- Regulatory and Financial Innovation: Data facilitates compliance, enhances supply security, and paves the way for financial instruments linked to emissions and sustainability.
These features align seamlessly with ENGIE’s digital strategy, which leverages data to anticipate client needs, secure supply, and create long-term value.
A digital and sustainable future
With Attributes, ENGIE and its partners demonstrate that digitalization and the energy transition can go hand in hand. The start-up perfectly illustrates how an idea born internally can become a catalyst for innovation for the entire energy ecosystem.
“Digital transformation is not an end in itself, but a lever to create real value for clients and the planet,” concludes Thierry Mathieu.
For ENGIE, this is also an inspiring example: internal innovation, combined with collaboration with start-ups and investors, is a powerful driver to reinvent the energy market, one kilowatt-hour at a time.