R&D and renewable energies

EDF wants to double its production of renewable energies involving new wind and solar farms in particular so as to help us achieve net zero globally.

With its cutting-edge technical expertise, the R&D department has a core role to play in meeting this aim.

As far as wind power is concerned, the work involves sophisticated technical expertise in the various components making up wind turbines, the blades, the mast and the turbine itself, as well as digital tools for improving the performance of the installations, optimising their maintenance, assessing the generation potential, and gauging the remaining lifespan of the components.

Among the flagship projects, multi-physical modelling of offshore wind farms is used to optimise the positioning of wind turbines, thus guaranteeing efficient and sustainable energy production.

The research also involves studying the impact of climate change on wind farms and further development of the modelling.

For solar power, the R&D department is focused on assessing the performance of solar modules, optimising installations and exploring new markets such as agrivoltaics and floating solar.

This will include the deployment of a floating solar power plant in Lazer, which will be able to supply electricity to more than 20,000 people each year.

Or the industrialisation of perovskite-based photovoltaics, in collaboration with the IPVF, paving the way for new technological breakthroughs.

EDF's R&D department is working alongside other departments in the EDF group on developing decarbonised energies.

More information on edf.fr/en/research