Université de Toulon: A Pioneering Self-Consumption Project
Université de Toulon and Enedis launched a collective self-consumption operation on the La Garde campus on September 15.
Université de Toulon (UTLN) and Enedis in Côte d’Azur have officialized the launch of a collective self-consumption operation. This project aims to produce and share renewable electricity locally.
It was sealed by the signing of an agreement between Xavier Leroux, president of the Université, and Nathalie Alexandre, Territorial Director of Enedis in Var.
The inauguration took place in the presence of local elected officials, notably Julien Argento, mayor of La Valette-du-Var, and Hervé Stassinos, vice-president of Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée and mayor of Le Pradet, highlighting the importance of this initiative for the region.
A concrete project with educational benefits
Completed in February 2026, the installation is a centerpiece of the university's overall energy renovation strategy. It allows the production of two photovoltaic plants to be shared among the five high-voltage stations supplying all campus buildings.
Advertisement
Electricity production is provided by a rooftop plant with a capacity of 230 kilovolt-amperes (kVA) and a photovoltaic canopy of 105 kVA.
Beyond energy autonomy, the project has an educational dimension. It offers students a real-world case study on one of the major challenges of tomorrow's electrical distribution network: the integration of renewable energies.
According to the project leaders, this model illustrates the benefits of self-consumption: long-term stabilization of the price per kilowatt-hour, increased energy independence through local production, and a contribution to the ecological transition.
This initiative is part of UTLN's ambition to transform its sites into exemplary eco-campuses, an approach recognized by the excellence award for ecological planning in 2024. Since 2018, the university has reduced its overall energy consumption by 37.5%, with a 15% drop for electricity and 60% for gas.
These performances were achieved through targeted renovations, optimized management, and a unique diversified energy mix in the region, combining geothermal energy, biomass, and photovoltaics.
Collective self-consumption will thus cover 10% of the campus's annual electricity needs. The strategy also includes the creation of cooling islands, roof greening, the development of soft mobility, and optimized management of green spaces and rainwater.
Enedis, facilitator of the energy transition
Enedis provided the technical infrastructure necessary for the proper functioning of the system. Thanks to Linky smart meters, the company ensures the measurement, distribution, and precise monitoring of electricity flows between production and consumption points.
It handles the collection and transmission of data, which are essential for managing the operation.
By supporting Université de Toulon, Enedis reaffirms its commitment to facilitating the emergence of new energy models. Collective self-consumption is an effective lever to strengthen the energy independence of local areas, accelerate decarbonization, and achieve savings on electricity bills.
Photos Université de Toulon.