R and D in France and in Western Europe

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · IEEE Power Engineering Review (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MPER.1991.90660· OSTI ID:5279930

Bastin, A J.F. ^[1]

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1. Electricite de France (FR)

This paper deals with worldwide electric utility R and D, but focuses on France first, and not on Western Europe as a whole. Apart from the fact that the R and D of European utilities hardly show a homogeneous set, there are four basic reasons. To begin with, France represents roughly 20 percent of Western Europe by itself. Germany, now extended to the late DDR, is the only country to have a larger share. Second, Electricite de France (EDF) is the largest electric utility worldwide, with annual sales of about 410 TWh. Third, EDF has consistently shown one of the lowest electricity prices: as an average .44 FF par kWh (about $.08 per kWh) which comes up on comparing the 410 TWh sales with a 165 GFF turnover. Beyond these three points, which are more or less permanent, it appears that both EDF and its R and D division have been stable over the last three years. So the French power system is the largest subsystem in Western Europe where a single well-defined R and D policy can be described and assessed; this is what the authors are going to do now.

• OSTI ID: 5279930
• Journal Information: IEEE Power Engineering Review (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Power Engineering Review (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (United States) Vol. 11:6; ISSN 0272-1724; ISSN IPERD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY POLICY
EUROPE
FRANCE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS