In response to world energy challenges, the Tenerrdis innovative cluster in the Rhone-Alps region develops and attracts with new technology all the renewable energy sectors.

Larger font size Smaller font size Send to e-mail recipient Print page Download PDF
  • Tenerrdis boosts partnerships between companies, the research world, education and training centers, and institutions to create projects that increase skills, business and jobs.
  • Tenerrdis gives priority to research projects based on public-private partnerships, support for small and medium-sized businesses and industries, creation of jobs, expansion of skills and training (part of a national program for promoting skills in the energy technology field) at home and abroad.
  • Five R&D programs have been set up by the cluster: solar power and construction, network management, biomass energy, hydrogen and fuel cells and hydro power.

Advantages

- Rhone-Alps is one of the top 10 regions on the European Union for wealth creation:
•    5th for scientific and technological potential
•    7th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
•    9th for patents registered

No. 1 French region for energy production

- Energy Sector in the Rhone-Alps area

Companies and Talent       
More than a quarter of French businesses in the sector are located in the Rhone-Alpes area.
Potentially 15,000 skilled personnel will be added within the next 5 years.

Research
More than 1,000 researchers in the field of renewable energy and energy management
Major research centers: CEA, CNRS, CSTB, INES, IFP and several universities.   

Share of National Energy Production

22% of primary energy
25% of electricity
42% of hydroelectric
50% of solar thermal
38% of photovoltaic

- A privileged position in the Renewable Energy field:
•    Solar power: the biggest number of solar thermal and photovoltaic installations in France.
•    Biomass: 2nd biggest forestry area in France
•    Hydropower: Historical role due to the presence of alpine resources
•    Hydrogen and fuel cells: first-rate scientific potential with 300 people working in public research facilities in this sector.

Members

- 210 (of which more than half are businesses and around 60% are small- and medium sized businesses)
- Tenerrdis includes businesses all sizes (including Schneider Electric, Alstom Power Hydro, 2ES 38, Faure Ingénierie and Photowatt), centers of competence (including the CEA, Grenoble INP and the University of Savoie), local authorities (including the Rhone-Alps region, the general councils of the Rhône, Isère, Drôme and Savoie and the greater Grenoble communities (communauté d’agglomération)) plus associations and other organizations (including the CCI (Chambers of commerce and industry), economic development agencies and Points Info Energie).

Current collaborative R&D projects (refer to appendix)

- 227 projects were certified between 2005 and mid-2008, of which approx. 50% have received funding

- Public funding examples:
• 65 million euros granted by the National Research Agency (Agence Nationale de la Recherche or ANR) between 2005 and 2008
• Nearly 9 million euros allocated by the Single Interministerial Fund (Fonds Unique Interministériel or FUI) between 2005 and 2008
• Almost 5 million euros provided by local authorities in the Rhone-Alps region between 2005 and 2008

International partners

- Eurêka EUROGIA cluster
- European KIS-PIMS project (renewable energy services)
- Candidate for the European PITER project (Rhône-Alpes, Piemont, Environment Park, Tenerrdis)
- Cooperation with the Colombus network (Europe/Latin America)
- Tenerrdis is also involved in a national scheme for collaboration between renewable energy clusters launched in June 2008, upon the signing of a cooperation charter with the Capenergies (PACA), Derbi (Languedoc Roussillon) and S2E2 (Centre) competitiveness clusters relating to a joint action program, including energy missions abroad (India, Spain, USA, etc.).

Appendix: Certified R&D project examples

 

 

Project Name and Subject

 

 

Partners

 

Biomass

 

PRECOND

Preconditioned biomass for biofuel applications

CIRAD, CEA, IFP, LSGC, LGPI, EDF, Total, Atanor, Aston University

MOBIPE

Optimize the mobilization of forest resources in sloping regions

 which accounts for 27% of available resources in France.

 

FCBA, ONF, Cemagref, UCFF, CFPF

ANABIO

Development and application of a sector evaluation

method for biomass energy production

IFP, INRA, FCBA, Total, CEA, Renault,  Air Liquide

 

System management

 

PREDIS

Provide to all energy industry players an infrastructure for the latest advanced technology related to intelligent systems management

 

Grenoble INP

REFLEX

Anticipate new methods of systems management and develop

tools in response to the rapid growth of decentralized

production within the next 5 to 10 years.

 

IDEA, Scalagent, EDF, Schneider, G2elab

XEROS

Develop responsive power compensation solutions in high- and medium-voltage electrical networks where the supply available today is at the technological limit.

 

 

Rectiphase, Bollré, G2elab

 

Hydropower

 

RECONCEPTION

Increase the power of existing hydroelectric power stations without affecting the existing building infrastructure (ecologically neutral).

 

Alstom Power Hydro, EDF, CREMHyG

HARVEST

Marine current turbine design development

G2elab, 3S-R, LEGI, LAMCOS, EDF, Areva

 

Hydrogen and fuel cells

 

SEMI-EHT

Develop experimental stacks suitable for high-temperature electrolysis (700 to 1,000°C) combined with a nuclear reactor for the large-scale production of low-cost hydrogen in the long-term (30 to 40 years).

CEA, EDF, Garlock France, ICMCB, Saint Gobain

CLIPPAC

Design of a PEMFC polymer membrane capable of operating at temperatures in excess of 130°C.

 

LEPMI, Eras Labo, 8 other UMR

HYCHAIN PRECURSEUR

Production of a prototype light commercial vehicle and wheelchair incorporating a hydrogen fuel cell system.

 

Axane, Grenoble INP

CIEL

Development of an individual electrical generator.

GDF-Suez, CEA, St Gobain, LACE, SPCTS, LEPMI, LMM, LTPCM

 

Solar power and Construction

 

SOLAR JET

Printed photovoltaic cells for producing very low-cost energy

 

Ardeje, CEA-INES, Hutchinson

Nano Solar Crystal

Structuring project on the French silicon-based photovoltaic cell sector.  It will mainly encourage research in two areas: provide France with solar-quality silicon and design high-efficiency photovoltaic cells. Priority will be given to the construction of a pilot laboratory dedicated to the production of solar cells by 2009.

 

Apollon Solar, EMIX, EDF-EN, Photowatt, Photosil, Silpro, CEA-INES, CNRS, CSTB, Université de Savoie

SOLION

Photovoltaic system incorporating a storage facility

Saft, Tenesol, CEA-INES

IMCPBAT

Improve building energy efficiency with the

integration of a phase-change material.

Université Lyon 1, DuPont de Nemours, EDF, CSTB

SOLUTION-PV

Develop an overall design together with the bricks of which it is composed, for a photovoltaic system connected to the grid, optimizing the productivity and reliability of PV installations. It comprises a number of innovations in various parts of the photovoltaic installation system

Schneider Electric, Tenesol, Photowatt, H3c-énergies, GEG, Saft, G2elab, GScop, CEA-INES

  

Contact

Invest in France Agency Paris

Laurent Bergeot Laurent BERGEOT
Director, Territories Development
Send an e-mail
+33 1 40 74 74 11