Seawater for the thermoregulation of luxury hotels along La Croisette…
…with a heating network laid by SADE.
In 2025, Cannes’ iconic promenade will be revamped for pedestrian use, with green spaces and above all a heating network using seawater.
Renewable energy is at the core of this project. Building works will begin in 2025 on a thermal power plant which will capture and heat seawater by incinerating the city’s waste.
In preparation for the Croisette’s makeover, the municipality began by widening the beaches and renovating seaside establishments. The next step got under way in 2022, with the renewal of underground networks and the laying of a heat network in anticipation of the building and commissioning of the future power plant.
Renew and anticipate
After 60 years of loyal service, the networks are in need of renewal. If the road surface is to be opened up, why not take advantage of this to lay the heating network, even if the facilities have yet to be built?
The works thus consist in the renewal of the wastewater, stormwater and water supply networks, at 3m deep, followed by backfilling and the laying of the future heat network at a depth of 1.3m. This two-way dual network (2 hot, 2 cold) will be laid along the sea front.
Beneath the northern walkway
SADE is the agent for this vast project, as part of the Rampa -TP -Politi – Brosio consortium. The SADE teams are mainly responsible for laying the heating network. They regularly operate alongside other companies in the consortium for the renewal of wastewater, stormwater and water supply networks. Works began in early January 2023 on Boulevard Alexandre III and will end in front of the Palais des Festivals next September. 1.4km of network are to be laid under the north walkway, leaving access to the luxury shops lining the sea front.
Around thirty people are working daily and have already renewed 50% of the water network and laid 20% of the heating network.
Pending commissioning
Given that the power plant will not be built before 2025, the heating network must be maintained pending commissioning. SADE will thus deploy a nitrogen inerting system through the network, then carry out regular inspections to ensure it does not deteriorate prior to its connection to the power plant.
Save the date for 2025, to see the network commissioned and discover a hotel resort heated and cooled with seawater!
Do you know La Croisette?
150 years ago, this site was simply sand dunes and wetlands. In the mid-19th century, 27 co-owners of the land mapped out a 5m-wide pathway, before the Croisette itself was developed at the end of the same century.
This boulevard is now one of the town’s iconic spots, with its luxury hotels, beaches and palm trees. Popularised by the Cannes Film Festival, no major works have been carried out to La Croisette since 1960.
Cannes Town Hall launched an architecture competition in 2017, won by the Roland CASTRO – Snøhetta consortium, for a vast enhancement project (170,000m2), of which our works form an aspect. Works to the surface will begin in January 2024, with delivery scheduled in 2025.