In the field of centralised, nuclear, hydro and thermal power generation, EDF R&D is developing tools and methods to improve the safety of production resources, optimise their operational lifespan, and increase their performance in terms of output and environmental impact.
R&D is working to protect EDF’s assets through actions in line with its policy to improve the safety of facilities, particularly with regard to enhanced performance and extended operating lifespan.
More broadly, the EDF group (EDF and Framatome) works on R&D in a partnership with the CEA as part of the Institut Tripartite and is developing the Nuclear Plant of Tomorrow Initiative comprising technological building blocks for existing plants and nuclear new build.
To support these programmes, R&D is developing digital simulation tools and experimental test resources, as well as tools that are capable of handling the fresh challenges raised by the increase in large sets of digital data, IT security, and new information and communication technologies.
Encouraged by the success of the ConnexLab experiment, which aims to test out new operating and maintenance concepts, EDF R&D is pursuing and expanding the development of the “Digital Reactor” project. This project has started to produce significant R&D results for the nuclear industry, and brings together nine key partners (EDF, CEA, FRAMATOME, SMEs, MSEs, and academics). It will also give engineering departments and design firms that work in the industry a computing environment based on the best available techniques, both in terms of available computing power and in terms of state-of-the-art scientific programming.
R&D is pursuing the development of digital initiatives, while continuing to give priority to strong partnership-based relationships with the other stakeholders in the nuclear industry. It thus launched two new projects, which are recognised and supported by the France Relance plan, to build rapid prototypes of control rooms for nuclear plants, SMRs in particular (Project ICAREX), and to be able to benefit from an industry platform for mechanical engineering calculations (Project MECANUM).
All these innovations in the digital field, but also in other complex technical fields, have enabled R&D to make a significant contribution to the existing fleet:
Framatome R&D aims to master the most advanced technologies, in order to attain the highest standards of safety and performance for its activities as a designer and supplier of nuclear steam supply systems, nuclear equipment and services, as well as fuel.
This R&D activity is primarily carried out within Framatome’s development teams and Technical Centres, in partnership with EDF R&D.
Framatome also relies on the capabilities of the CEA, within the Institut Tripartite, for simulation codes, higher resistance nuclear fuels and “technological building blocks” of “the nuclear plant of tomorrow”.
International partnerships have also been set up (with the US Department of Energy, the European Horizon Europe programmes and the France Relance Plan, etc.).
During the past year, the R&D work that was carried out within the Technical and Engineering Division BU (Business Unit) mainly comprised:
Developments of the Installed Base Business Unit’s service activities have resulted in significant progress: constant improvement and automation of intervention equipment for PWR and BWR power plants, and the extension of an innovative digital product and service offering to enhance our customers’ performance.
The second priority is support for the development of renewable energies in France and abroad, which play an increasingly important role in the European and global energy landscape.
For renewable energies, storage and hydrogen, EDF R&D’s goal is to identify technological breakthroughs that offer a significant competitive advantage, and to help the most promising technologies emerge industrially, working in partnership with academia, industry and startups. EDF is investigating a wide range of low carbon hydrogen technologies and storage solutions: hydropower, photovoltaics, onshore and offshore wind power, solar thermodynamic power, biomass, marine energies, geothermal power, electrochemical batteries, flywheels, thermal storage, thermochemical storage, flow cells, supercapacitors, electrolysers, fuel cells (hydrogen) and thermal energy storage (heat and cold).
In the field of offshore wind power, R&D has developed specific modelling tools for the hydrodynamic and mechanical sizing of fixed and floating offshore wind turbines.
R&D is also working to develop tools and methods to enhance operational performance and optimise the cost of projects on electricity generation systems that are based on renewable energies, projects on storage and systems for hydrogen generation by electrolysis powered by EDF group’s low carbon electricity.
Climate change, the marked decline in biodiversity and Earth’s limited resources make EDF a legitimate choice for a low carbon energy mix. The aim of the R&D Division’s initiatives is:
For many years, EDF has set up research teams dedicated to biodiversity issues. An ambitious research programme is seeking to develop high-performance tools to assess and manage the impacts of EDF’s production resources on biodiversity and constantly improve biodiversity in the vicinity of power plants.
