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© Direction de la Communication - Michael Alesi

Since 1963, the Principality has been using the Mediterranean Sea as a source of energy – most of the buildings along its coastline are equipped with a heat pump system.

Monaco was one of the first countries to use the seawater from its coast as a source of renewable energy, and has been doing so for more than half a century. The Principality installed its first seawater heat pump in 1963, at the Rainier swimming stadium on the port, to heat the water in the swimming pool.

Today, there are more than 80, laid out in twenty or so seawater loops and producing almost 20% of the national energy needs!

 

This thermodynamic technology, which takes heat or cold from seawater, makes it possible to heat or cool buildings.

The advantages of this energy are obvious – heat pumps produce three to four times more energy than they consume, which helps efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, as required by Prince Albert II. “I have set an exemplary aim, which is to achieve carbon neutrality for Monaco by 2050.

This will be achieved {in particular} by eliminating systems based on fossil fuels and replacing them, for example, with marine heat pumps,” the Monegasque Head of State declared at the COP meeting.

© DR
© DR

Several projects are under way to develop this renewable clean energy. Monaco creates two seawater heat pump loops in the Larvotto and La Condamine districts, connecting the pumps to a water supply network that supplies several buildings (including some that are further away from the coast).

The impact is considerable – it will make it possible to reduce greenhouse gases by 80% in buildings that are currently heated by oil or have air-conditioning. It will also support the ban on fuel oil, which will take effect in Monaco in 2022.