Innovation

Concrete objectives

• Broaden the renewable energy strategy
• Develop eco-design practices that can be applied to all new products
• Develop a nuclear fuel eco-design plan based on life cycle analysis and R&D projects
• Continue our innovation initiatives, taking into account customer needs and, in particular, developing partnerships, eco-design, preparations for the medium and long term, and information and communications technology.

Tangible results

Developing renewable energy

Creating a new business group

Since 2004, AREVA has been involved with the development of solutions for CO₂ free energy production.

In 2006, the group created the Renewable Energies business group, which focuses on 4 areas: 

• Wind power
• Solar power
• Biomass: the group designed and installed turnkey biomass plants in Brazil and India
• Fuel cells: AREVA intends to develop this clean, quiet and highly energy-efficient technology in the safety and public transport sectors

Broadening eco-design's application

Several pilot projects have been launched:

• The Engineering and Projects department applied eco-design to the COMURHEX plant modernization project
• AREVA is developing a wide range of Generation III+ and IV reactors (ATMEA 1, KERENA, fast neutron reactors, etc.), integrating environmental, social and societal considerations

Research and development programs

Group objectives

The group’s research programs were developed to respond to customer needs. Their efforts focus on:

• Facility safety and reliability
• Energy efficiency
• Cost reductions
• Final waste minimization
• Natural resource conservation
• Next-generations nuclear systems

To this end, the group concentrates on 4 major areas:

• Developing and updating production tools at the front end of the cycle
• Optimizing the economic performance of reactors and fuel
• Supporting the development and deployment of light water reactors
• Planning for next-generation reactors and related fuel cycle plants