In 2018, the Nice Côte d’Azur city authority, through its specially established structure Méridia Smart Energie, entrusted Idex with the delegation of public service for the heating network in the Nice Méridia district. The new geothermal power plant was inaugurated on 29 November in the presence of Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, Chairman of the Métropole de Nice Côte d’Azur and Vice Chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Renaud Muselier, Chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and Vice Chairman of French Regions, and Benjamin Fremaux, Chairman of Idex. The plant, which is powered by the aquifer underneath the Var river, is the first operated by geothermal energy in southern France.

In line with the target to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the Greater Nice region by 55%, as well as harnessing a local renewable resource (geothermal power), the Nice Côte d’Azur city authority has made the land on which the plant is built available free of charge for the next 25 years, enabling Idex to set up a connected heat network, 82% powered by renewable energy. The network will heat and cool 500,000 m² of buildings, representing 3,500 homes and 250,000 m² of commercial property. For Idex, the project involves operating the geothermal power plant, 12 geothermal wells, networks and delivery sub-stations.

Inauguration centrale géothermique Nice Méridia

Innovation at the heart of Nice Méridia

The Méridia Smart project, developed in Nice by Idex, puts forward a new approach for managing energy. In conjunction with the heating network, it facilitates integrated multi-energy management, creating interactions between heating and electrical systems within the district. The challenge is to apply a shared reference framework for all those contributing to the smart grid, who can thereby take advantage of standardised energy resource management.

In order to ensure supply is sufficient to satisfy demand at an optimal price over the long term, Idex set up a data lake with a single infrastructure monitoring interface. It will integrate new features and make buildings connected to the Nice Méridia heating network smarter.

The infrastructure and services provided were designed to be easily replicated in other eco-districts while also adapting to regulatory changes.

Idex commitments for Nice Méridia

  • Optimise low-carbon energy consumption by helping reduce the demand for energy and flattening the demand curve.
  • Develop the scope of the heating network in strict compliance with the district’s development programme.
  • Safeguard the supply of recovered and renewable energy over the duration of the delegation by guaranteeing 82% of heat and 78% of cooling is generated by recovered and renewable energy in the energy mix.
  • Enable subscribers to benefit from a reduced rate of VAT from the start of the contract.
  • Cut consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 20% using the smart grid.