Innovation
EDF fosters innovation wherever it is present. In North America its Innovation Lab detects and accelerates game-changing tech. In South America EDF Norte Fluminense’s programs are at the vanguard of operational performance. The goal: detect, nurse, test and accelerate game-changing technologies to support EDF subsidiaries.
North America
Energy Innovation Services
EDF Innovation Lab contributes to the detection, analysis and development of new services for EDF’s commercial and industrial customers. Leveraging on digital innovations, data analytics and connectivity energy services provide low carbon solutions – based on a portofolio of energy efficiency, flexibility, waste heat recovery, storage and flexibility – allowing for an increasing share of renewable energy solutions.
Smart Grid Research
Smart grid management technologies are key to the rising demand for energy. EDF Innovation Lab addresses this opportunity through several tools: data analytics based on smart meters or sensor data, Distributed Energy Resources (DER) management platforms, and communication standards, to name a few examples. One particular focus is microgrids – localized grids that ensure the optimization of generation, load and flexibility, when connected or independent from the utility grid – to guarantee resilience from outages or cyber incidents.
Open Innovation
The detection, analysis and technology transfer from startups is key to enhancing the competitiveness of EDF’s business units. EDF Innovation Lab’s Open Innovation Team provides specific Open Innovation support to U.S-based EDF subsidiaries.
Renewable
EDF Renewable Energy recognizes the importance of renewable energy in the future of power production and invests in innovation to find increasingly efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies. During the last five years, EDF Renewable Energy has invested more than $1 billion in its projects and currently has over 7,500 MW of renewable energy projects including solar, wind, biomass, and since 2015, energy storage projects.
Scientific and Academic Cooperation
The EDF Innovation team in North America is located in Silicon Valley, where it collaborates with universities, national laboratories, industry leaders and high level research institutes, selected for their energy expertise or advanced research facilities.
Notable partnerships include:
- the MIT Energy Initiative
- the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
- UC San Diego
- UC Berkeley
South America
EDF Norte Fluminense invests in innovation in Brazil and South America and has adopted three pillars of self-sustainability on which to base its actions:
- respect for the environment
- industrial efficiency
- financial sustainability