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collaboration avec les différents syndics de copropriétés pour, avec eux, nuisances des travaux. Par exemple, le tracé des réseaux a été conçu pour
accompagner les copropriétaires dans la transition énergétique de leur que leur déploiement s’effectue pour plus de 70% en galeries techniques.
bâtiment. ». Bien que l’utilisation de la thalassothermie soit extrêmement Visionnaire sur de nombreux sujets de ce type, Monaco a ouvert le bal bien
bien maîtrisée en Principauté, il est indispensable, dans le contexte d’un avant ses voisins en puisant l’énergie thermique de la mer dès les années
changement au sein d’un immeuble existant, de rassurer les occupants 1960. En prenant le problème des émissions de CO2 à bras le corps, la
que leur niveau de confort ne baissera pas. Au contraire, le pilotage des Principauté a souvent anticipé et le montre une nouvelle fois en étant l’un
pompes à chaleur est apte à répondre encore plus précisément aux be- des premiers pays à vouloir utiliser l’énergie thermique marine à une si
soins, et la climatisation devient disponible au pied de l’immeuble.» Il faut grande échelle, et sur des bâtiments existants. C’est un défi passionnant
aussi souligner l’attention que porte le concessionnaire pour réduire les que les équipes de seaWergie sont déterminés à réussir.

seaWergie: energy from the sea, an essential energy

transition tool for the Principality by Kevin Racle

The Principality of Monaco has made the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) one of
its main objectives for many years. The Monégasque Electricity and Gas Company (SMEG), totally
invested in this issue, offers, via the seaWergie brand, an essential solution for this.

What is seaWergie? travels through a 4.5-kilometre closed circuit concession, three production substations are
It is the use of thermal energy from the sea to network in the Larvotto and Condamine districts,” in operation, six are being installed and about
heat and cool buildings. For the past 10 years, explains Pierre Bardy, Director of Urban Hot and 15 others will be installed soon. Pierre Bardy
the Fontvieille urban network, managed by SMEG, Cold Networks at SMEG. This network irrigates would like to point out that “the deployment of
has already been operating on this principle. In each connected building in order to deliver these loops required an enormous amount of
order to best support the energy transition of thermal energy to the heat pumps installed work by the services of the Prince’s government,
other buildings in the Principality, the Prince’s instead of the old boilers. Finally, these heat the seaWergie group and by all those involved, in
government wanted to develop and deploy two pumps supply the internal networks of buildings particular property management companies, to
new thalasso-thermal loops in the Condamine with heating, domestic hot water and even air achieve the Principality’s objectives, as defined by
and Larvotto districts. The concession of these conditioning for the interior of residences. the Sovereign. We work in close collaboration with
new networks has been entrusted to a group of the various property management companies in
Monégasque companies, SMEG, SOGET and Carbon-free energy: superior comfort for users order, with them, to accompany co-owners in the
MES. “SMEG, partner of the Prince’s government’s Owners of buildings currently heated with energy transition of their building.” Although the
energy transition, present in the Principality for fossil fuels and located within the perimeter use of thalassothermy is extremely well mastered
more than 132 years, brings in particular its served by the thalasso-thermal loops have all in the Principality, it is essential, in the context of
long experience as a network operator. SOGET been approached by the seaWergie teams. a change within an existing building, to reassure
deploys its energy services as an operator inside The transition to this network will, above all, the occupants that their level of comfort will not
buildings, some of which are air-conditioned with make it possible to quickly and fully achieve the drop. On the contrary, heat pumps respond even
private thalasso-thermal systems. MES, for its objective of reducing CO emissions. Indeed, in more precisely to needs and air conditioning
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part, specialises in carrying out works, including its operation, seaWergie is completely carbon- becomes available at the foot of the building. It
the laying of networks and the installation free: three quarters of the energy delivered should also be noted that the attention paid by
of thermal equipment. It’s real teamwork, a comes from the sea and the rest results from the concessionaire to reduce the nuisance of the
bringing together of complementary knowledge the electricity necessary for the operation of the works has meant that the route of the networks
and expertise in the service of the success of equipment. The electricity supply is guaranteed has been designed so that deployment takes
thalasso-thermal loops,” emphasises Thomas to be of renewable origin, which means that place, for more than 70%, in technical galleries.
Battaglione, Managing Director of SMEG and SMEG has the traceability of the green electricity A visionary on many subjects of this type,
representative of the seaWergie group. purchased from production plants, which Monaco got the ball rolling long before its
are themselves perfectly identifiable. “Thus neighbours by drawing thermal energy from
In real terms, how does this energy from the the connection of these 30 buildings on the the sea in the 1960s. By tackling the problem
sea reach us? two perimeters will reduce the Principality’s of CO² emissions head-on, the Principality
1.5 kilometres off the coast and 80 metres emissions by more than 6,500 tonnes of CO² has often anticipated - and this is once again
deep, seawater at a constant temperature per year. This represents more than 7% of the demonstrated as Monaco is one of the first
throughout the year (14.5°C) is collected and Principality’s total emissions compared to 1990! countries to use marine thermal energy on such
then transported to seaWergie’s technical rooms But, above all, 25% of GHG emissions from the a large scale and on existing buildings. It is an
in which exchangers will transfer the calories to real estate sector,” explains Pierre Bardy. exciting challenge that the seaWergie teams are
a freshwater loop. “This temperate water then Just 17 months after the signing of the determined to meet.

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