Monaco's Solar Project on Hold Following Court Ruling
The Nice administrative court suspends authorization for a photovoltaic park in Levens due to environmental concerns.
On February 28, 2025, the Nice administrative court ruled to suspend the construction authorization for a photovoltaic park on Mount Arpasse in Levens.
This authorization had been granted by the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes on March 1, 2024, to the Société Monégasque de l'Électricité et du Gaz (SMEG), which oversees energy production and distribution for the principality of Monaco.
The project is part of the initiative led by Monaco Énergies Renouvelables (MER), where the government of Monaco holds a 51% stake and SMEG possesses the remaining 49%.
Engie is the principal shareholder of SMEG with a 64% ownership, while the government of Monaco owns 20% of its capital.
Following the court's decision, MER is required to provide a more comprehensive environmental impact study within ten months.
The court deemed the initial study insufficient, particularly criticizing the lack of detailed compensatory measures for the negative impacts on biodiversity associated with the project, and highlighting the absence of a thorough analysis regarding the ecological balance of the site.
Ariane Masséglia, president of the environmental protection organization Les Perdigones, expressed concerns stating that renewable energy projects must not compromise natural spaces, underscoring the public interest in biodiversity which should not be sacrificed.
The association, alongside the Fédération d’action régionale pour l’environnement, submitted two annulment appeals to the administrative court.
One targeted the construction permit, while the other challenged the modification of the local urban planning scheme (PLU) of the metropolitan area.
Irène Lastère, president of the Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Paca), described the choice of the site as incomprehensible, emphasizing the potential destruction of protected insect and reptile species, including the Denticulated Lizard and the Ocellated Lizard.
She also noted the threat posed to vulnerable bird species such as the Eurasian Reed Warbler and the Ortolan Bunting, which breed in the area.
Concerns regarding the environmental impact study's significant deficiencies were also raised.
In response to facilitate the project's progression, the local urban planning scheme for the Nice-Côte d’Azur metropolitan area was altered to reclassify the Mount Arpasse region from a natural zone to “zone à urbaniser indice photovoltaïque” following a deliberation on September 25, 2023, designating the project as being of general interest.
This authorization had been granted by the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes on March 1, 2024, to the Société Monégasque de l'Électricité et du Gaz (SMEG), which oversees energy production and distribution for the principality of Monaco.
The project is part of the initiative led by Monaco Énergies Renouvelables (MER), where the government of Monaco holds a 51% stake and SMEG possesses the remaining 49%.
Engie is the principal shareholder of SMEG with a 64% ownership, while the government of Monaco owns 20% of its capital.
Following the court's decision, MER is required to provide a more comprehensive environmental impact study within ten months.
The court deemed the initial study insufficient, particularly criticizing the lack of detailed compensatory measures for the negative impacts on biodiversity associated with the project, and highlighting the absence of a thorough analysis regarding the ecological balance of the site.
Ariane Masséglia, president of the environmental protection organization Les Perdigones, expressed concerns stating that renewable energy projects must not compromise natural spaces, underscoring the public interest in biodiversity which should not be sacrificed.
The association, alongside the Fédération d’action régionale pour l’environnement, submitted two annulment appeals to the administrative court.
One targeted the construction permit, while the other challenged the modification of the local urban planning scheme (PLU) of the metropolitan area.
Irène Lastère, president of the Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (Paca), described the choice of the site as incomprehensible, emphasizing the potential destruction of protected insect and reptile species, including the Denticulated Lizard and the Ocellated Lizard.
She also noted the threat posed to vulnerable bird species such as the Eurasian Reed Warbler and the Ortolan Bunting, which breed in the area.
Concerns regarding the environmental impact study's significant deficiencies were also raised.
In response to facilitate the project's progression, the local urban planning scheme for the Nice-Côte d’Azur metropolitan area was altered to reclassify the Mount Arpasse region from a natural zone to “zone à urbaniser indice photovoltaïque” following a deliberation on September 25, 2023, designating the project as being of general interest.
