Cutting edge research facilities
Among the numerous research centers dedicated to clean and renewable energies:
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS – French National Scientific Research Center)
- Universities of Aix-Marseille
- Institut Universitaire des Systèmes Thermiques Industriels (IUSTI – University Institute of Thermodynamic Industrial Systems)
- Ecole Centrale of Marseille
- CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) and the Institut de Radioprotection pour la Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN – Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety Institute)
- The ongoing ITER project in Cadarache, next to the CEA, will be of considerable importance for research in nuclear fusion:
The CEA Cadarache Center is heavily involved in research on new energy technologies and works on hydrogen, the production of synthetic fuels and solar energy. Its focus is on research in the three following areas:
- The mass production of hydrogen and process management
- High temperature procedures for the development of biomass energy
- Photovoltaic component testing in real conditions
The Center also conducts research in plant biology and microbiology studying the synthesis of energy molecules such as hydrogen or lipid reserves, in order to develop new biofuel production processes.
