SMEG: Orchestrating a Virtuous Laboratory for Energy Transition in the Principality

The Principality is a prime example of energy innovation thanks to the significant contribution of SMEG, one of the very few companies in the world to cover every aspect of the energy value chain.

The Principality's electricity and gas operator, which has doubled in size and created 150 jobs in just a few years, is an expert in the distribution, supply and production of renewable energies, as well as in energy efficiency and electromobility. These last three activities extend outside Monaco, and the package is completed by environmental services with SMA. Thomas Battaglione, SMEG's discreet and efficient Managing Director, has been at the helm of this environmentally committed company for the past ten years, spearheading numerous innovative projects driven by local and international synergies, proven technologies and sustainable vision.

Focus on energy from the sea

A more technical reality was highlighted during the recent presidential visit to Monaco: a unique local energy model, conceived and deployed with rarely equalled engineering rigour. "In Monaco, 31% of greenhouse gas emissions come from heating buildings. To reverse this trend, the Principality has invested in urban networks based on two models: a centralised system, used during the urbanisation of Fontvieille, based on waste recovery and thalassothermal energy; and new-generation decentralised loops powered solely by energy from the sea", explains Thomas Battaglione.

 Fontvieille, pioneer of the eco-neighbourhood

The Fontvieille network, put in place 40 years ago, was designed as an integrated, neighbourhood-scale project. It is based on the recovery of waste heat from waste incineration, coupled with the use of thalassothermal energy. The result is a system that provides heating and cooling for almost 2,000 homes and dozens of commercial buildings, without using fossil fuels. A feat born of strong political will and a historic partnership between the Prince's Government and SMEG.

The fifth generation of energy: a decentralised model

More recently, in districts such as Larvotto and Condamine, the challenge has been quite different. The task was to install energy networks in a dense, existing urban fabric. It was impossible to install a power station here. The solution: decentralised thalassothermal loops. Specifically, explains Astrid Siohan, Director of Urban Heating and Cooling at SMEG, "the idea is to draw seawater from a depth of 80 metres, at a stable temperature, to supply a tempered water loop. The loop serves several buildings, each of which has its own heat pump. The heat is exchanged without the seawater circulating in the buildings, but via high-efficiency heat exchangers". This made-to-measure approach, building by building, means that the energy transition can be integrated into constrained contexts. It's a model of adaptability that many European cities are looking at very closely.

The SeaWergie network, supported by a dedicated concession owned jointly by SMEG, the State, Soget and MES, covers 34% of the Principality via its thermal loops. With the addition of Fontvieille, operated directly by SMEG, more than 54% of the Principality can access this technology. Altogether, this infrastructure can serve the equivalent of 8,000 homes, and there are still plenty of prospects.

The excellence of the model is now attracting delegations from Lisbon, Paris, Berlin and the Middle East, curious to understand how such a dense and small country has been able to transform its constraints into pioneering solutions. ‘It's the combination of a renewable resource - the Mediterranean Sea - deep pumping and very low-carbon electricity that has produced one of the most virtuous networks in the world,’ adds Thomas Battaglione. 

A model to emulate

With Monaco aiming to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels), heating and cooling networks based on thalassothermal energy are emerging as a major solution. This model, designed for the long term and adapted to specific local conditions, is the fruit of a clear strategy, controlled technical support and strong political backing from the Prince's Government.

Thanks in particular to the work of teams from SMEG and its partners, during the recent State visit, Monaco successfully demonstrated that the ecological showcase it is promoting is based on concrete, effective and cutting-edge actions in the field of energy transition.

By Kevin Racle - Monaco Economie