Energies of Tomorrow in the Sud region: Europe’s #1 smart region for sustainable living

The Sud region is an iconic global territory with an economic focus on new energies directly linked to the Mediterranean of the Future. This sector brings together all the stakeholders in the energy transition and the development of the green economy.

The companies and organizations active in the Sud region’s Energies of Tomorrow sector are grouped around strategic areas of development: renewable energies, renewable marine energies, hydrogen, renewable gas, renovations and retrofits for energy-efficient buildings, nuclear energy, and optimized energy systems. These activities touch upon a vast range of markets, from low carbon energies to mobility solutions to green industry to creating eco-buildings, eco-districts, and eco-territories.

The emergence of the hydrogen industry is supported by key pilot projects across the regional territory. These projects, which serve as economic models and demonstration sites, cover the entire value chain: production, distribution, storage, consumption, and traditional hydrogen uses in industrial manufacturing processes.

Key figures for the sector

A powerful sector that is ready to lead the energy revolution!

€14 billion / year
in energy expenditures
in the region

Job creation potential
of up to 415 000
for the region’s renewable energy sector
by 2035

3 700
public-and private-sector companies,
with more than 40 000
employees

#1
solar resource in France
with 300 days of sunshine per year,
or 30% more than the national average

Innovations in the Energies of Tomorrow sector

The Sud region is one of the leading European regions in terms of energy resources. Its diversified economic base creates opportunities for any company wishing to establish connections with business leaders in areas such as the petroleum and chemical industries, plastics and composites, the nuclear industry, and energy production and supply.

As one of the top energy territories, the Sud region is home to a range of competitiveness clusters and major projects related to the Energies of Tomorrow. There is also a range of technology and innovation hubs that focus on development related to energy and the environment.

Capenergies

The Capenergies cluster is made up of a network of stakeholders, including major industrial groups, companies, research and educational organizations, and financial backers. Capenergies’ mission is to work with its members to create a robust ecosystem that is a vector for economic development and competitiveness in the low-carbon energy sector in the Sud region.

Capenergies

Aqua-Valley

The Aqua-Valley cluster aims to promote all the branches of the water sector to foster the development of start-ups and SMEs. Its mission includes supporting the implementation of joint actions, managing and coordinating networks of stakeholders, and pooling resources to contribute to regional economic development and create permanent jobs within the cluster’s perimeter.

Aqua-Valley

Pôle Mer Méditerranée

The objective of the Pôle Mer Méditerranée is to sustainably develop the maritime and coastal economy in the Mediterranean basin and around the world by promoting innovative projects and supporting the development of companies. In the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the cluster brings together scientific and economic stakeholders concerned with maritime and coastal projects that involve questions of security and sustainability.

Pôle Mer Méditerranée

Secured Communicating Solutions

SCS is a world-class competitiveness cluster dedicated to digital technologies that brings together an ecosystem of almost 300 industrial players, including large multi-national groups, SMEs and startups, research laboratories, and leading universities in their fields. They are working together to develop and market products and innovative services to generate growth and jobs in high-potential markets.

Pôle SCS | Écosystème Européen Numérique Leader

Novachim

The Novachim cluster supports individual businesses and the broader ecosystem in the chemistry and materials sector to boost economic development. The cluster also fosters innovation by promoting connections between the industry and academic research.

Novachim

EA Ecoentreprises

The EA Éco-entreprises cluster supports the region’s green companies in the various stages of their growth. It promotes the emergence of innovative solutions and services aimed at understanding, measuring, preventing, and limiting the impact of human activities on the environment.

EA Éco-entreprises

The stakeholders involved in the Energies of Tomorrow strategic sector are contributing to the emergence of numerous large-scale projects. Among the many innovative projects in the region are:

ITER

A €20-billion project, ITER is an international experiment to build a Tokamak-style nuclear fusion system to prove that fusion energy is viable on a commercial scale. The project is located near the Cadarache nuclear research center in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance.

ITER

EDF’s Grand Carénage

The EDF energy utility is investing €3.2 billion to extend the operational life of the Tricastin nuclear plant by ten years. (2019)

EDF France

Provence Industry'Nov

The Provence Industry’Nov industrial hub (Marseille-Fos/Étang de Berre is driven by some of the territory’s biggest companies and organizations (Total, LyondellBasell, ArcelorMittal, Port of Marseille-Fos, etc.) and it has received more than €1 billion of investment in the sectors of the future (biofuels, bio-refining, biomass, environment, etc.)

Provence Industry’Nov

Provence Grand Large

Provence Grand Large is a floating offshore wind turbines project that meets the challenge of global warming by providing a concrete contribution to the sustainable energy transition. Provence Grand Large has two interrelated objectives: to test technological innovations in real-world conditions and obtain precise feedback on the effects of this new technology on the environment.
The first pilot wind farm opened in 2019 with more than €100 million invested, and the goal is to install 2GW of generating power by 2050.

Provence Grand Large

FlexGrid

FlexGrid is a program to develop and install infrastructure for optimized energy systems. Since 2017, it has been deploying new generation equipment and smart grids technologies that have reached industrial maturity to support economic development in the region and make the area a showcase for French smart grid expertise.
There are currently €340 million in investments underway.

The FlexGrid program

Sector of Excellence: Energies of Tomorrow 14

Hynomed

Hynomed is a collaboration between the public and private sectors that will deploy green hydrogen production and distribution infrastructures in Le Castellet and the Port of Brégaillon. This initiative will include land mobility (a fleet of hydrogen vehicles, buses, etc.) and maritime applications (development of hydrogen-powered sea shuttle).

Hynomed

Valhydate

VALHYDATE (GPMM/PIICTO) : Valhydate works with major companies in the Fos-sur-Mer industrial basin to promote the use of hydrogen for stationary power supplies, mobility, and power-to-liquid projects.

VALHYDATE – Capenergies

Iconic sites

A network of sites and stakeholders that are essential to the Sud region’s economy

This map shows a selection of the organizations, projects, platforms, business parks, and institutions that are essential for the Energies of Tomorrow sector in the Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

Major companies in the Energies of Tomorrow sector

A complete research and innovation ecosystem dedicated to the Energies of Tomorrow

Companies that choose our region do so for growth opportunities, market diversification, global connections, and the well-being of their employees. For these reasons, many successful companies are already well-established in the region’s Energies of Tomorrow sector. Moreover, according to the national review of cleantech start-ups, Provence ranks #3 in France for the creation of companies in this sector. Our region has already succeeded in convincing the rising stars of the Energies of Tomorrow sector to set up shop in our territory:

Renewable energy technology: BW Ideol (wind), Solar Cloth System (solar films)
Tech, storage, and systems: Klearia (lab-on-chip solutions / water analysis) NAWATechnologies (storage), HySiLabs (hydrogen transport and storage)
Energy use and efficiency: Ween (smart thermostat) Qualisteo (energy use management)

In addition, the Energies of Tomorrow sectors features many renowned corporations, SMEs, and start-ups:

Air Liquide, ArcelorMittal, Engie, Esso, GreenGT, Helion Hydrogen Power, Hyseas Energy, Areva H2Gen, Ineos, Kem Ollne, Les Bateliers de la Côte D’Azur, Linde, LyondellBasell, Proviridis, (Alstom), Total, Veolia…

The Energies of Tomorrow, in their words!

“The Côte d’Azur has a very advantageous ecosystem for cleantech companies thanks to the development of the Nice Eco Vallée smart district, the presence of major global companies, and the network of top research centers. What’s more, the quality of life in the Côte d’Azur is highly attractive.”
Clément Nanteuil, CEO and founder of Klearia, Valbonne

“I am very satisfied with our presence in Aix-en-Provence. We are working with ITER to carry out studies and participate in designing and constructing the various components of this experimental machine that aims to harness fusion energy. We also benefit from interesting opportunities in the refineries and associated facilities and at the ArcelorMittal steel plant. We hire international professionals that are difficult to recruit. The incredibly beautiful setting of the South of France is a major asset and a determining factor in our ability to attract talented people.”

Damien Desprez, CEO of Doosan Babcock France, Aix-en-Provence

“GRTgaz did a ‘Tour of France’ to choose the most suitable territory for the development of the Jupiter 1000 project, and the company found Provence to be the ideal site for developing a power-to-gas activities in France.”
GRT Gaz, France

“We work on automated control systems for ITER. The choice of Aix-en-Provence was a natural one, so we could be closer to current and potential customers.”
Amec Foster Wheeler Nuclear, engineering, Charenton-le-Pont

“This is a key step in our development strategy. This plant will be Quechen’s flagship on the European market. Our location on the PIICTO industrial and innovation platform outside of Marseille gives us the ability to work with local partners. We will use raw materials produced locally.”
Weidong Que, President, Quechen Silicon Chemical, Fos-sur-Mer

The major recurring events related to the Energies of Tomorrow in the Sud region

Various trade shows, expos, and events focused on the Energies of Tomorrow sector help to foster a dynamic business environment in the region and its immediate vicinity. Among the many quality events on the calendar, we have chosen five to highlight:

Iter Business Forum - IBF

The ITER Business Forum (IBF) is a unique opportunity to make business contacts within the ITER project and beyond. The IBF provides an opportunity to learn more about the status of ITER, to be apprised of upcoming sub-contracting opportunities, and to facilitate partnerships between industries that are located both inside and outside Europe
Date: 7 April 2022
Location: Marseille

FOWT

The FOWT conference is the world’s largest event for the floating offshore wind turbine sector. The objective of FOWT is to develop the sector and accelerate its integration into the renewable energy mix.
Dates: 16, 17, 18 November 2021
Location: Saint-Malo, Brittany (a recurring event that switches between locations)

Innovative City

Innovative City is an event that focuses on all topics related to the smart city, including energy issues. Innovative City is the benchmark event for urban innovation for all types of stakeholders.
Dates: 13 & 14 October 2021
Location: hybrid event

Energy4smartmobility

The European Energy for Smart Mobility forum is dedicated to energy solutions for sustainable and smart mobility. Major corporations, SMEs, and start-ups will meet to discuss one of the major challenges of the future: finding solutions to provide competitive, low-carbon energy that will enable the large-scale adoption of clean mobility.
Dates: 6 &7 October 2021
Location: hybrid event

Cycl'Eau

Cycl’Eau is the number one regional event for water management and stakeholders in the water cluster networks and the Ea éco-entreprises cluster.
Dates: 1 & 2 December 2021
Location: Aix-en-Provence

Cycl’Eau

Selection of documentation about the sector

A wide variety of support documents are available to provide information and help promote this sector. We propose a selection of the most informative documents so you can discover the richness of the Energies of Tomorrow ecosystem:

Download in French

Sector Brochure

A general summary of the sector that is appropriate for any type of event. Four pages, in French and in English.

Download in French

Download in English

HR Guide for Sector

Multi-purpose document presenting the human resources connected to this sector. Four pages, in French and in English.

Download in French

Panorama

An economic overview of the Energies of Tomorrow strategic sector (key figures, business networks, major contractors and companies, main assets of the territory …). Document of close to 65 pages, in French.

Download in French

Benchmark

Comparison of the regional sector with other French or international regions of comparable size and/or comparable sector of activity. 60-page document, in French.

Download in French

Download in English

Keynote

Presentation of the Energies of Tomorrow strategic sector. Document of more than 65 pages, in French and English.

Download in French

Download in English

Visit Program

Listing of the major projects, platforms, clusters, and iconic sites connected to this sector. This document illustrates some of the most important places in this sector and provides with you with comprehensive overview that will give you a clearer idea of some of the region’s assets. Document of nearly 30 pages, in French and English.

Listen to podcast (in French)

Innovation Podcast

Topic: Low-carbon mobility

Guests:

Eric RONCO, CEO of Proviridis
Alexandra LOUGOVOY, Director of Marketing and Communication for Vulog
Alexandre CAIZERGUES, CEO of Syroco
Raphaël RINALDI, Director of Innovation and deployment of optimised energy systems at Capenergies

Discover the other sectors of excellence

Sector of Excellence: Energies of Tomorrow

Energies of Tomorrow in the Sud region: Europe’s #1 smart region for sustainable living

Key figures for the sector

Innovations in the Energies of Tomorrow sector

Iconic sites

A network of sites and stakeholders that are essential to the Sud region’s economy

Major companies in the Energies of Tomorrow sector

A complete research and innovation ecosystem dedicated to the Energies of Tomorrow

The Energies of Tomorrow, in their words!

The major recurring events related to the Energies of Tomorrow in the Sud region

Selection of documentation about the sector

Sector Brochure

HR Guide for Sector

Panorama

Benchmark

Keynote

Visit Program

Innovation Podcast