As part of his campaign for the municipal elections, Christian Estrosi presented his “Gran Soulèu d’Or” plan, designed to make Nice a pioneering solar energy city. The outgoing mayor wants to make it a major political marker, defending a local energy transition that he contrasts with a “step backward”.
Faced with soaring energy prices, the city of Nice is banking on a major natural asset: its sunshine. The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, presented on March 19, 2026 a plan called “Gran Soulèu d’Or”, designed to accelerate the development of solar energy in the territory. Objective: to produce electricity locally at lower cost and strengthen the energy independence of Nice residents.
A three-pronged plan. With nearly 2,800 hours of sunshine per year according to him, Nice has significant potential. “We are sitting on a goldmine of sunshine”, declared Christian Estrosi during his speech at AnimaNice Maioun dou Rai.
In a context marked by rising energy costs since 2022, the municipality wishes to reduce residents’ bills by developing photovoltaics. First step: equipping public buildings. More than 1,000 municipal infrastructures could be affected, with a potential estimated at 60,000 m² of panels, equivalent to the consumption of 5,000 households. For example, the Maioun dou Rai site could produce 150 MWh per year thanks to 500 m² of panels.
The plan also provides for involving condominiums, with the goal of reducing residents’ charges. A 15 m² installation would save approximately 700 euros per year for a household of three people. Some residential buildings could benefit from large-scale projects, capable of supplying several hundred homes.
Finally, the municipality wishes to develop collective self-consumption. The idea is to consume locally the electricity produced, redistributing it between public buildings and homes. “It’s the short supply chain of solar”, summarized the mayor, highlighting a model that reduces costs by limiting intermediaries.
A project, a policy
A dual vision. When asked about the call to form a united front and about the fatigue expressed by some left-wing voters, Christian Estrosi defended a choice he presents as decisive for the city’s future. The elected official opposed “possible choices for society: a step backward or the continuation of moving forward”, he declared.
The mayor also highlighted a project he claims was built with “authentic environmentalists, who he believes share the same republican values.” He stressed the development of the municipal solar company as a lever to reduce energy costs and improve residents’ purchasing power.
In the longer term, Christian Estrosi raised economic and social issues, believing that certain political directions could undermine attractiveness, employment and social cohesion in Nice.
With this “Gran Soulèu d’Or” plan, Nice intends to initiate a transformation of its energy model, at the intersection of ecological and economic challenges. The question now remains how to translate these ambitions into concrete achievements in the territory?
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