Reducing Impact

Sustainable Transport

Several significant advances have been made in sustainable transport within the municipality. These include the extension of gondola lift opening hours, such as the Chalets gondola lift, which now improves transport around Méribel Mottaret for residents from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., compared to 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. previously.

Similarly, the Olympe gondola lift, which connects Brides-les-Bains to Méribel Centre, now benefits from extended opening times, offering greater flexibility for workers and skiers. In addition, free shuttle buses, now powered entirely by HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), offer visitors an alternative to using their personal vehicles.

Finally, as part of a continuous improvement initiative, the local authority launched the development of a sustainable transport plan at the end of 2024, aimed at rethinking all travel in the valley over the long term.

Environmentally Aware Piste Grooming

During the winter of 2022-2023, a test using HVO fuel was successfully conducted on some of the snow groomers in Méribel. Since the winter of 2023-2024, this biofuel, made from reprocessed vegetable oils, has been rolled out to the entire fleet of snow groomers in Méribel by both ski lift operators.

This widespread use has reduced CO2 emissions from grooming by 85% to 90%.

Installation of Solar Power Plants in the Ski Area

In the summer of 2022, a bifacial solar power plant was inaugurated in Méribel, at the mid-station of the Saulire Express gondola lift. This installation produces energy on both sides of the solar panels. After two years of operation, it generated an annual output of 145,337 kWh, equivalent to the consumption of the first section of the gondola lift over three and a half months.

Building on this success, a second solar power plant will be installed in 2024 at the Mont-Vallon gondola lift departure station. This facility is expected to produce 189 MWh/year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of a six-seater chairlift like the Bouquetin.

At the same time, the municipality has finalized the mapping of areas suitable for accelerating renewable energy production within its territory. For its part, water company Suez has studied the potential for micro-turbines on the drinking water network.

Renovation of Municipal Buildings

The resort of Méribel, founded in 1938, was among the first in the Alps. Its buildings have been developed and renovated over the years, but in 2022, the municipality launched a major energy renovation plan for all municipal buildings, including the Parc Olympique, which was inaugurated in 1992 for the Albertville Winter Olympics.

This building still houses numerous services today, such as the Medical Centre, police and gendarmerie offices, and car parking, in addition to the full range of indoor activities for visitors, including an ice rink, swimming pool, climbing wall, and spa.

Waste Collection

In 2021, sensors were installed on waste containers throughout the municipality, allowing for real-time monitoring of their fill levels. This investment has reduced CO2 emissions from collection rounds by 25%. To encourage composting, three municipal composters were installed in the summer of 2024 in various villages. Building on their success, new collection points will be deployed in the coming months to meet the growing demand for sustainable waste management.