EDF is also present in Brazil via:
Since 2013, EDF was jointly developing with its Chilean partner Andes Mining & Energy (AME) a gas to power project combining the design, construction, and operation of a CCGT-type power plant with a power output of around 600MW, a storage infrastructure and an LNG Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU). Via its subsidiary EDF Chile, created in 2014 for this purpose, the Group has a 50% shareholding in the two project companies (GNL Penco and Central El Campesino –which was renamed GM Holdings), alongside BiobioGenera (50%) of which AME is the controlling shareholder.
The project nonetheless suffered a setback when the Chilean Supreme Court, in a decision on 30 January 2017, revoked the permit for the Penco Lirquen regasification terminal. Various measures have been taken to further the Group’s expansion into electricity generation in Chile, including resuming the process to obtain a permit, which was finally granted in November 2019.
In addition, Central El Campesino (now GM Holdings) acquired in May 2018 ESSA, owner of a 750MW thermal generation asset.
The Group is also prospecting for development opportunities and working on the predevelopment phase of power generation assets, especially from photovoltaic and hydraulic sources.
EDF Renewables is also active in Chile via the Bolero solar plant (146MWp) in the Atacama Desert, the Santiago Solar photovoltaic project (115MWp) which is jointly held with AME and opened in January 2018, and the Cabo Leones 1 wind farms (115MW) which came online in June 2018. Currently, Cabo Leones 1 is undergoing a 60MW capacity expansion.
Finally, Citelum, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the EDF group, is also present in the country, in the public lighting market (see section 1.4.6.1.2 “Citelum”). In 2020, Citelum installed 572 solar-powered lighting fixtures in Estación Central (province of Santiago) to enable the city to make substantial energy savings and significantly reduce its CO2 emissions. This new generation of lighting can also be programmed to modulate light intensity according to the time of day and the number of visitors.
Since 2018, the Group is present in Peru via its subsidiary EDF Peru SAC which is prospecting for development opportunities and working on the predevelopment phase of power generation assets.
The EDF group’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region are focused on China and fast developing countries. The presence in the sectors of electricity generation, networks and services constitutes an industrial challenge for the Group. In nuclear power, in addition to the EPR project in Taishan, new projects should provide the Group with access to technological innovation and enable it to exploit its industrial expertise.
EDF’s objective is, thus, to maintain its competitive and technological advantages in the international arena focused on the global nuclear programme, the equipping of emerging countries, and the perspective of the French fleet renewal.
EDF group has had operations in China for over 35 years, and is now one of the largest foreign investors in electricity generation, with around 3,600MW of net installed capacity(1), in particular via stakes in the Taishan EPR power plant, the Dongtai IV and V offshore wind farms, and coal-fired thermal power plants. 48% of electricity from EDF’s output in China was CO2 -free in 2020, higher than the Chinese national average. The EDF group has been developing partnerships with leading Chinese electric energy companies, which open up new prospects for investment in the nuclear industry, renewable energies, energy services and engineering.
The Covid-19 crisis had a negative impact on the electricity demand in China in the first half of 2020, resulting in a fall in revenues for production plants. This phenomenon was only partially offset by the strong recovery of the market in the second half. The pandemic also had an impact on the development of certain projects due to travel restrictions in China and internationally.
After having led the design, construction and commissioning in 1994 of Daya Bay (two nuclear reactors of 1,000MW each) and then assisted the Chinese group ChinaGeneral Nuclear Power Co. (CGN) in the construction of the Ling Ao Phase 1 power plant (two reactors of 1,000MW commissioned in 2002 and 2003), followed by Phase 2 (two additional reactors of 1,000MW commissioned in 2010 and 2011), EDFis currently providing assistance to the CGN group with the operation of its entire fleet. The performance recorded by these plants since they were commissioned is one of the Group’s main references in China, bearing witness to the cooperation between France and China.
Now an investor, EDF owns a 30% shareholding in Taishan Nuclear Power JointVenture Company Ltd., which was set up to fund, build and operate two EPR nuclear reactors in Taishan (1,750MW each), in the province of Guangdong. Through this project, the Group represents the first foreign investor in Chinese nuclear power generation. The project’s success will rest on the complementary expertise of the EDF(including Framatome) and CGN groups.
Unit 1 came into commercial operation on 13 December 2018, and Unit 2 on 7 September 2019.
See also sections 1.4.1.1.3.2 “Other “New Nuclear” projects” and 2.2.4“operational performance – risk factor 4A “Management of large and complex industrial projects, including EPR projects”.
EDF is developing partnerships with key players in the Chinese nuclear industry, in particular its peers CGN and CNNC, to the benefit of the Group’s business lines. The General Partnership Agreement between EDF and CGN was signed in 2007 and complemented in 2014 by implementation of agreements related to engineering, providers, R&D, and plant operation-maintenance. The partnership with CGN enabled the initiation of discussions concerning its participation in joint nuclear projects inGreat Britain, which resulted in the signature by EDF and CGN of the final contracts for the Hinkley Point C power plant on 29 September 2016. An agreement covering the development of the UK Hualong technology was also signed at that time.
The EDF group has set up a facility based in Beijing and Shenzhen (the Group’s front office for China’s nuclear industry) with the aim of promoting the EDF model of an integrated architect-assembler operator while acting as a flagship for French industry and positioning itself to support the Group’s projects, in partnership with the Chinese nuclear sector. Experts in this facility are working, in particular, to further promoteFrench codes and standards, as well as the Group’s nuclear safety guidelines. They are also a source of technical exchanges benefiting EDF group’s nuclear activities.EDF also chairs the Partenariat France Chine Électricité (PFCE), made up of qualified suppliers of EDF which are seeking to develop in China.
In 2010, the Group also concluded a partnership framework agreement with ChinaNational Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), extended in March 2014 and renewed in 2019, aimed at developing their cooperation along deeper, global lines. Lastly, in the context of the Franco-Chinese governmental declaration of June 2015, tripartite agreements (EDF and AREVA – Framatome with CGN and CNNC) were signed in 2015, providing for, inter alia, the participation of the Chinese industrial customers inGreat Britain, as well as a partnership for the development of medium- and large-sized reactors.
In addition, an agreement between AFCEN(2) and NEA (National EnergyAdministration) covering cooperation as regards codes and standards was signed inNovember 2017. Its objective is to promote mutual recognition of nuclear codes and standards and to establish a basis for cooperation between France and China enabling both countries to operate on the international nuclear market.
(1) Share in the capacity corresponding to EDF’s stake.
(2) French Association for the Design, Construction and Operating Supervision of the Equipment for Electro nuclear Boilers.
