EDF ramps up development in low-carbon energy in India

In the context of the state visit to India of the French President Mr. François Hollande, EDF reached important steps in its strategy to develop low-carbon energy in India. Three areas are particularly addressed: nuclear energy, renewable energy and sustainable cities.

In the nuclear energy sector, EDF has initialed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian national electricity generator Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL), for the projected construction of 6 EPR units at Jaitapur in the west of India.

The Jaitapur project is at a stage of preliminary technical studies. It was also given initial environmental clearance in 2010. A contract for pre-engineering studies was signed by Areva and NPCIL in April 2015. The goal in the next few months is to continue with the work initiated by Areva and NPCIL in April 2015 to secure certification for the EPR reactor in India from the Indian safety authorities and finalise the economic and financial conditions and the technical specifications of the project, supervised by the indian atomic organization DAE.

In the renewable energy sector, EDF has been active in the solar photovoltaic sector in India. The Group is consolidating its position in the country by signing a pivotal partnership agreement in onshore wind power with the SITAC Group. The agreement provides for EDF EN to acquire a 50% share in SITAC Wind Management and Development Private Limited.

The goal of this joint venture will be to build four wind farms by the end of 2016 with a total capacity of 142MW in the state of Gujarat, one of the windiest parts of India. The medium term ambition will be to complete around 220MW of wind projects in the states of Gujarat, Maharastra and Rajasthan.

Finally, in the smart cities sector, EDF has signed a collaboration agreement with the public sector company Engineering Projects India (EPI), the goal of which is to support the development of Indian cities participating in India’s national programme “100 Smart Cities in India”. The Indian authorities will effectively launch this programme in 2016, with an initial group of 20 cities.

On this occasion, Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF’s CEO, announced: “With CAP 2030, EDF’s strategic plan, the Group speeds up its development in low-carbon energies. The successes with our Indian partners in the key sectors of nuclear and wind energy is testimony to this commitment. I am also delighted with the prospect of EDF being able to establish a sustainable partnership with India, a country boasting exceptional economic vibrancy and dynamism, and one that, with its ambitious targets for tackling climate change, is clearly committed to the energy transition.

I would particularly like to recognize the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian nuclear operator NPCIL. We are honoured by this vote of confidence in the French nuclear industry and in EDF”.