EDF - Our strategy

• EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), who has made the photovoltaic subsidiary a priority development area. The company is creating solar farms on the ground as well as roof plants, connected to the electricity network. In 2010, EDF EN installed 186.2 MWc solar plants in 6 countries where the company operates (France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Canada and the USA): In France, the 58 first MW of the Gabardan project (67 MWc) in the Landes region, Xirokambi (6 MWc) in Greece, Casatejada and Valdecaballeros (both 11.4 MWc) in Spain and Elmsey (23.8 MWc) in Canada. Italy has experienced a remarkable year with over 70 MWc installed, notably Loreo (12.6 MWc) in Veneto and Priolo in Sicily (13.5 MWc). In the United States, the construction of the LIPA project (16.6 MWc) started in New Jersey.
  
• EDF ENR, who has designed and marketed photovoltaic solar offers since end 2007, for individuals, professionals and local authorities with medium-sized roofs. With more than 10,000 installations for individual customers and more than 350 installations for professionals and local authorities for 12 connected MWc, EDF ENR is positioning itself as a French leader in roof photovoltaic energy. EDF ENR started its expansion in Europe by creating EDF ENR Solare in spring 2010, in Italy, with an Italian partner, E++, a Piedmontese company and historical player in solar energy in Italy.

Photovoltaic cells were originally designed to be used for stand-alone applications; however, the recent emergence of installations connected to the distribution network has led to the development of photovoltaic energy as a means of generating distributed electricity.

Photovoltaic solar energy on isolated sites

Photovoltaic energy is the best source of power for isolated sites and often represents the sole option for supplying electricity in such situations. As half of the world’s population is not connected to a power grid, this is a market with huge potential.

Photovoltaic solar energy hooked up to the grid

Thermal solar energy, which is used mainly for producing domestic hot water and sometimes for heating individual dwellings, has also met with great success. The EDF Group is active in this sector through Giordano, a company in which EDF ENR has a stake.