To support Monaco’s transition to a carbon-free society by 2050, the Prince’s Government and the Société Monégasque de l’Electricité et du Gaz have worked together over three years to create Monaco Energies Renouvelables (MER) with the target that Monaco has 100 percent green electricity production capacities equivalent to the territory’s consumption.

In order to best cover the Principality’s consumption curve, a target mix of technologies has been defined by the Government, combining photovoltaic, wind and hydraulic power. MER has just acquired three projects developed by ABO Wind, one of the world’s leading developers of wind power. This has enabled the construction of three wind farms, including two in Charente and one in the Côtes d’Armor Department.

The wind turbines are from Vestas and Nordex, two leading manufacturers, for unit power output between 2 and 2.5 MW, and heights between 145 and 160 metres. Built in climatically favourable areas, these wind turbines will provide annual production of 57 GWh per year, or 10 percent of the Principality’s electricity consumption.

In addition to the photovoltaic parks that only produce during the day and with a production peak around midday consistent with the peak of electricity consumption in the Principality linked to air conditioning, wind power plants will be able to provide coverage of the “basic” consumption of the territory, especially at night.

The construction of the wind farms will be completed in the coming months, and the wind turbines should be connected to the French public grid and then inaugurated between December 2020 and June 2021. With 10 photovoltaic parks and three wind farms, MER has secured the production of 75 MW of renewable energy, or 25 percent of the Principality’s consumption.

Samy Touati, President of Monaco Energies Renouvelables, said: “2020 will remain a key year in the development of our strategy and constitutes an important step towards the energy independence of the Principality. These new wind farms will enable MER to respect its growth trajectory, with the intermediate ambition of covering 50 percent of our electricity consumption by 2025.”

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Monaco Government Press Service FILE PHOTO: Reuters