Renewable energy production and integration into the carbon-free energy mix
Combine different sources of energy to create a relevant, economically-viable energy mix
This Strategic Focus Area concerns the development of combined and optimized energy production technologies and requires multiple inputs spanning technology, business, and legal and regulatory frameworks. Efficient integration of renewable energy into the energy system, including energy produced by the businesses that use energy, and securing the energy supply are the keys to a full-fledged energy transition and a differentiator for the region. Covering individuals’ energy needs and protecting society’s economic interests (acceptable pricing) are crucial in the face of technological, natural, sociopolitical, and geopolitical disruptions or threats, whether from within or from outside.
Tenerrdis’ 2022 objectives
Tenerrdis aims to establish Auvergne Rhône-Alpes as the region best positioned to promote the emergence of new combinations of technologies from different energy production systems for innovative applications with the potential for massive rollout.
KEY CHALLENGES ADDRESSED BY TENERRDIS
- The massive development of renewable energy and the effective integration (flexibility and smart, multi-energy grids) into the energy mix.
- The development of new services and models (self-consumption, crowdfunding, etc.) to drive innovation for local communities (and especially energy-plus and energy-plus for environmentally-friendly growth communities) and the consideration of societal issues relative to the implementation of renewables.
- Securing the energy supply from disruptions of all kinds by optimizing the energy mix, addressing fluctuations in not only energy prices, but also production (and, ultimately, production shutdowns) due to climatic events.
- Reducing CO2 emissions by promoting equipment recyclability (overhauls for wind turbines, recycling solar equipment, reuse strategies, etc.).
- Encouraging the emergence of new renewable energy production processes (pyrogasification, electrolyzers and high-temperature electrolyzers, CO2 capture and storage, methanation, etc.).
alignment with public policy
This Strategic Focus Area aims to respond to specific points in EU, French, and regional policies:
- The EU SET (Strategic Energy Technology) 1 Plan
- The French Energy Transition Act, which sets forth the nation’s major targets (such as achieving 23% renewable energy in the total of energy consumed by 2020 and 32% by 2030). Renewable energy must account for 40% of electricity production and 38% of end consumption of heat, also by 2030.
- The National Council for Industry’s working groups on New Energy Systems.
- At the regional level, the cluster’s aim is to make Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Europe’s most sustainable region—a carbon-free, energy-plus region with a secure energy supply. This Strategic Focus Area aligns with the region’s “Energy” Field of Excellence of the Regional Strategy for Economic Development, the region’s Energy and Environment agenda, and the region’s development master plan.
- Projects supported by Tenerrdis will also leverage the work of French energy agency ADEME.
France’s Multi-year Energy Master Plan
In November 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the nation’s energy strategy for the coming years. On January 25, 2019 the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition released France’s Multi-year Energy Master Plan, the document that will guide the nation’s energy policies over the coming years. The primary objective of the Multi-year Energy Master Plan is to make the transition to a more efficient, economical, diversified, and resilient energy system. To avoid any disruptions to the energy system, the transition must follow a clearly-defined and well-planned path toward greater protection and conservation of the environment and climate. The ten-year Master Plan includes energy policy guidelines intended to help the nation reach the targets in the legislation. The Master Plan puts France firmly on the road toward achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by 2050, setting the course for all energy stakeholders who will contribute to France’s future energy mix.
A carbon-neutral France by 2050!
project focus
The Sun’Agri 2 project was set up to develop the dynamic optimization of agrivoltaic systems in order to effectively combine crop and solar electricity production on the same land. The project is a prime example of how technologies can be combined in novel ways.