International maritime metropolis, port and industrial hub of European dimensions, Le Havre and the Seine estuary play a key role in exchanges between Europe and China, highlighted in their organisation of the China Europa event, whose sustainable urban development themes are among the region’s areas of excellence and know-how.
Port du Havre - Terminal de France
As the leading French port for foreign and container trade, Le Havre plays a strategic role in the flow of goods between France, Europe and China. Indeed, the People’s Republic of China is the biggest client of the port of Le Havre.
The constant development of modern and reliable infrastructures, and in particular the commissioning of the different Port 2000 terminals, have now optimised reception of the biggest vessels under exceptional conditions, which in the long term will enable container traffic at the Le Havre port platform to be increased threefold.
An economic hub with worldwide connections, the Le Havre region has a high concentration of international companies, corporate offices and an extended fabric of small and medium-sized enterprises in constant contact with the five continents.
Prestigious twinning agreements reinforce the links between the region and China: the city of Le Havre is twinned with Dalian, while in 2005 the port of Le Havre also signed twinning agreements with the port of Shanghai.
Le Havre has taken part in numerous initiatives aimed at development of a sector linked to CO2 capture, transport, storage and re-use, via research studies and projects and follow-up of demonstration projects in partnership with industry.
Among these initiatives, COCATE is a European research project with a budget of €4.5M, including €3M financed by the European Commission within the framework of Framework Program 7. COCATE brings together nine partners (ACCOAT, DNV, IFP, Geogreen, LHD, Port of Rotterdam, SAN, SINTEF and TNO) and will run for a term of three years from 1 January 2010. The aim of this project is to study the conditions of CO2 transport and export to storage facilities for small and mid-sized producers of emissions.
Sedibex
The Le Havre region attaches great importance to developing industrial ecology. Various operations have been implemented, such as the Grenelle Estuary forum and studies aimed at identifying potential synergies between the different regional players, and monitoring of industrial projects such as SEDIBEX.
SEDIBEX is one of the biggest industrial waste incineration and recycling plants in Europe (360,000 tonnes / year). This industrial waste from over 450 industrial sources, mainly in Normandy (85%), is recycled to produce energy, allowing the recovery of 300,000 tonnes of steam per annum and 9.5 million kWH of electricity.
While the French government has issued a first call for projects aimed at introduction from 2015 of large offshore wind farms in the Channel, the Le Havre region is establishing a position as a major industrial centre for the manufacture, installation and maintenance of these power stations of the future.
These wind farms, completed by British projects on the south coast of England, represent a total capacity of 3.75 GW which will be delivered by some 900 new generation marine wind turbines, within a radius of 200 miles around Le Havre.
For the past two years, in cooperation with its main institutional partners and an industrial skills cluster, the Le Havre region has been preparing to host the biggest names in offshore wind turbines, in particularly appropriate port infrastructures.
Perret architecture listed by Unesco
From its post-war reconstruction to the major urban projects in the process of development, Le Havre now represents a veritable melting pot of innovative architectural and urban planning concepts developed by some of the greatest French and international names (Auguste Perret, Oscar Niemeyer, etc.).
The reconstruction of the city centre, considered by historians and town planners to be one of the most significant projects of the 20th century, is exceptional. It constitutes one of the most remarkable practical examples of accumulated urban planning knowledge in Europe in this age.
“Les Bains des Docks”, by Jean Nouvel
Its classification by Unesco in 2005 as a World Heritage Site marked international recognition of this avant-garde city in terms of urban planning.
Le Havre has supported this valuable award by implementing major forward-looking projects aimed at developing the quality of life and enhancing its touristic and business attraction. These new and large-scale developments are the work of respected creators: Jean Nouvel, Alexandre Chemetov, Jean-Paul Viguier, Reichen & Robert...
These nautical, sporting and commercial facilities and natural areas have the advantage of being perfectly interwoven into an urban setting full of history, whose ambitious architecture remains more than ever in the service of its inhabitants.
Future tramway (2012) – A CODAH project
At the very heart of sustainable development best practices, Le Havre now continues an exemplary policy aimed at implementation of urban development schemes and economic projects that are environment and people-friendly.
Already recognized for the quality of their urban and sub-urban transport infrastructures, Le Havre and Le Havre urban community are developing sustainable solutions in the service of all: construction of a tramway, development of “green modes” (network of cycle paths, etc.), express rail lines, etc.
Ambitious new urban facilities, including sustainable development principles in their concept and construction, are in the process of creation. For example, the hanging gardens with their 17 hectares of greenhouses and themed gardens overlooking the bay of Le Havre have already brought new life to an old military fort in compliance with HQE standards.
Odyssey 21
The hanging gardens
Odyssey 21, the future marine and sustainable development center, will symbolize anew the city’s commitment to meeting this challenge of the future. Its 120-metre high tower, designed by architect Jean Nouvel, will have a wind turbine system, giving the building exemplary energy efficiency. Its two vast exhibition platforms will depict the challenges of the modern maritime world and offer a 360° view over the city and the Seine estuary.
Le Havre also combines housing and respect for the environment with the construction of a large-scale eco-district which will provide 1,200 homes in individual and small collective buildings. This new sustainable living area will soon extend over 26 hectares and will provide an excellent example of application of high environmental quality (HQE) principles.
