The Fairmont Monte Carlo has plugged its upgraded seawater pumping station into Monaco’s growing thalassothermal network, transforming the hotel into a community energy hub.
Managed by Seawergie, a subsidiary of SMEG, the connection transforms the luxury hotel into a critical node in the Principality’s push for renewable, carbon-free energy. Around ten additional buildings will soon be able to draw on the sea’s steady temperature to heat and cool their interiors, marking a major step forward in Monaco’s environmental ambitions.
Deep beneath the historic Fairmont’s lobby lies an industrial system that’s been harvesting the Mediterranean’s natural thermal energy since 1975. By drawing Mediterranean water from 5–10 metres depth through a heat pump, the system now provides heating and cooling not only to the Fairmont but also to around ten neighbouring buildings.
Recent upgrades—tripling pump capacity to 1,500 m³/hour and adding a 5,000-litre hot water tank—ensure the network can expand into northern La Condamine and the Costa district. The integration is expected to prevent nearly 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting Monaco’s targets of a 55 percent reduction by 2030 and full carbon neutrality by 2050.
“We are proud to contribute to Monaco’s sustainability goals by opening our system to the wider community,” said Alexandre Ariel, Fairmont General Manager.
Key details:
- The hotel’s original seawater heat pump has been in operation since 1975, now modernized for greater efficiency.
- Connection managed by Seawergie (SMEG subsidiary) turns the Fairmont basement into a shared thermal energy source.
- Initial network rollout will prioritize high-emission buildings, beginning with the Schuylkill, replacing oil-fired systems.
- Expansion covers northern La Condamine through to the Costa district, leveraging Monaco’s long-standing thalassothermal infrastructure.
- Annual carbon savings of nearly 2,000 tonnes represent about 3 percent of Monaco’s total emissions.
