The EDF group holds 49% of FZPC, a joint-venture created in 2014 with a subsidiary of the Datang group to build and operate an “ultra-supercritical” power plant (2×1,000MW) in the Jiangxi province. This technology makes it possible to reach high levels of temperature and pressure in the boiler, assuring a better output (close to 44% for Fuzhou) than a traditional power plant, while decreasing coal consumption and CO2 per kilowatt-hour generated. The first unit was commissioned in December 2015, the second in April 2016.
EDF and Datang have entered into discussions to redeploy their partnership to low carbon activities. This commitment led to the signing of a “Low Carbon Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement” on 18 June 2021.
Through the Chinese subsidiary of EDF Renewables, EDF group has a stake in 7 wind farms in operation, with gross total installed power of 403.3 (254.2MW net) and a pipeline of projects under development totalling several hundred MW.
In 2018, EDF Renewables diversified its business into distributed solar power with the creation of a joint venture with ACC, aimed at developing rooftop solar power solutions for industrial customers (130MW is in operation or under construction to date).
In the sphere of offshore wind power, in March 2019, EDF concluded an agreement with the China Energy Investment electricity company for the construction of two projects (Dongtai IV and Dongtai V) off the shore of Jiangsu province. The two partners are building and operating these wind farms, with total capacity of 502MW, together. The first phase (Dongtai IV – 302MW) was commissioned in December 2019; the second phase (Dongtai V – 200MW) in November 2021.
The R&D centre’s activities in China involve the generation and storage of low-carbon electricity, innovative electricity grids, local multi-energy systems, energy engineering, electric mobility and open innovation. Benefiting from the highly dynamic and innovative Chinese ecosystem, EDF’s R&D centre in China is working on applications of digital technology and artificial intelligence to energy business lines. The first edition of EDF Pulse China was organised in 2021 with the participation of over 200 Chinese start-ups.
In the city of Sanmenxia (Henan province), EDF set up a joint venture (of which 65% is held by EDF) for the construction and operation of an urban heating network using the recovery of waste heat emitted by thermal power plants of its partner Datang. The 30-year concession agreement was signed on 9 August 2016.
In the city of Lingbao (Henan province), EDF set up a joint venture (of which 65% is held by EDF) to build and operate a heating network powered by a 30 to 35MW biomass cogeneration power plant. The 30-year concession agreement was subscript on 9 January 2018. The outcome of the ongoing grant process is currently uncertain.
In the city of Sanya (Hainan province), EDF and its partner Changfeng Energy were chosen in August 2017 by the municipal government to build the first cooling power plant, which was initiated in September 2021 and will provide air conditioning systems to hotels in this region.
In January 2021, EDF and Jinan Heating Group signed a 25-year contract to develop an urban air-conditioning network in a new business district of Jinan (9 million inhabitants), which began operating in August 2021.
In partnership with car manufacturer Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), EDF inaugurated a first battery exchange station for a fleet of taxis for the City of Sanya (Hainan Province) in August 2020. Several other stations are being developed in Haikou (capital of Hainan province) and Zhuhai (Guangdong province).
EDF is also present in this country for public lighting, through the 15-year contract signed with Kunming city (the capital city of Yunnan province) where it manages 113,000 street lights.
The EDF group’s activities in Southeast and Southern Asia are focused on the development of the electricity sector, particularly through projects for the design, construction and operation of new thermal gas and hydraulic generation plants in countries offering Independent Power Plant (IPP) type opportunities. EDF is also involved in the field of renewable energies, nuclear, smart cities, microgrids, electric mobility and innovation.
At 31 December 2021, EDF owned 56.25% of Mekong Energy Company Ltd. (MECO), the company owning Phu My 2.2, a combined cycle gas power plant with a capacity of 715MW. The other shareholders are TEPCO (JERA) and SGM2 (Sumitomo). This is the first IPP project financed exclusively by foreign investors in Vietnam. The BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) contract has a term of 20 years. In 2005, EDF provided “turnkey” delivery of the power plant, and operations are now managed by MECO.
Once built, the high-efficiency and environmentally-optimised CCGT Son My1 plant with a capacity of 2,250MW in Binh Thuan province, situated north-east of Ho Chi Minh City will be operated by EDF for a period of 20 years. The EDF group was chosen to head the consortium tasked with studying the project alongside local partner Pacific Corporation and Japanese partners Sojitz Corporation and Kyushu Electric Power Co. with stakes of 37.5%, 25%, 18.75% and 18.75% respectively. A memorandum of understanding setting out the general terms of the project was signed with Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) in November 2018 and amended in December 2020. On 27 October 2021, the project was granted an “in-principle investment decision” from the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The working schedule for 2022 will consist in obtaining final approval for this feasibility study from the MOIT and moving forward in the negotiation of a concession agreement and other contractual documents required for commissioning of the first unit by the end of 2025.
At 31 December 2021, EDF Invest holds a 40% stake in Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC), which owns the hydropower complex Nam Theun 2 with an installed capacity of 1,070MW. Nam Theun 2 was built by the EDF group under a “turnkey” contract and commissioned in 2010. The other shareholders are a Thai company, EGCO (Electricity Generating Public Company Limited), which holds 35%, and a Lao State company, LHSE (Lao Holding State Enterprise), which holds 25%. NTPC company operates the power plant on a 25-year concession agreement concluded with the government of Laos.
2021 business focused on the operational management of installations (first major overhaul since commissioning), in a difficult hydrological year in Laos, whilst also continuing with social and environmental support missions in the region of Nam Theun (the Nakai Nam Theun National Park was accepted as candidate to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas).
A project to develop a floating solar wind farm with capacity of 240MWp on the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric dam reservoir was launched in 2019. The project was formalised by the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lao government in July 2019 and then with our partners in June 2020. During the year 2021, important steps were taken, including the signing of a Project Development Agreement (PDA) with the Lao government and an MoU with partners, to optimise and develop production by NTPC. The benefits of this hybridisation between two power sources are manifold. In particular, it allows a better production capacity in the dry season, thanks to optimised water storage in the reservoir, and the development of a low-carbon energy without major environmental or social impact.
India was hit hard by the Covid epidemic in 2021. This crisis has had a significant impact on the development of the Group’s activities in this region.
In the field of nuclear energy, for details of the cooperation agreement for the project to construct six EPR reactors in Jaitapur, see section 1.4.1.1.3.2 “Other New Nuclear projects”.
EDF continued developing its smart meters and smart grid business with the EESL3 project. The project provides for the installation of nearly 5 million smart meters in five Indian states, under the French-Indian Cooperation Plan. The roll-out phase was launched in 2021 and is expanding massively after a slowdown due to the health crisis. The EDF International Networks subsidiary, established in India since 2019, is coordinating the implementation of the project.
EDF Renewables continued growing its solar and wind power businesses in India, the latter established in 2016 (see also section 1.4.1.3.3 “EDF Renewables activities”).
