EDF_REGISTRATION_DOCUMENT_2017

3.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIETAL INFORMATION − HUMAN RESOURCES Offer sustainable, safe and efficient energy

In 2017, EDF EN launched a project to control its wind and solar power assets in real time, for system service. First proofs of concept were implemented, showing that it is possible to remotely control the setpoint of several works in different PV plants, wind power plants, battery storage in real time. In terms of networks, one of the focus areas of Enedis’ R&D programme is: “Design a way of managing local systems which facilitates the inclusion of renewables and sustainable development”. It aims to develop solutions to increase the integration capacity of new producers on the distribution network. Progress made in 2017 includes: the continuous rollout of the first components of the “contingency management” ■ tools in the regional agences de conduite, particularly tools for optimising the programming and preparation of network projects (using constantly improved photovoltaic and wind power output forecasting tools); development of new tools for coordination between Enedis (Agences de ■ Conduite) and the producers, notably the test of producers’ energy reduction actions via the e-DEIE (mechanism for the Exchange of Operational Information) to mitigate network overload; continued experiments on alternative solutions to reinforcement when ■ connecting producers; development of innovative solutions to regulate voltage in primary areas of ■ deployment of the industrial solutions Smile and Flexgrid smart grids; prospective R&D work to assess the economic interests of flexibilities as an ■ alternative to network investments, notably in areas heavily affected by the development of decentralised output. Additionally, Enedis has tested or is testing some of these solutions in smart grid prototypes: Smart Grid Vendée, SMAP, and the European project Inteflex (with its French prototype Nice Smart Valley). EQUIPMENTS Nuclear safety is EDF group’s first priority. It guides decisions and investments, (materiality issue no. 12: Safety of the existing nuclear fleet and new nuclear investments). Nuclear safety 3.2.4.1 In the EDF group, each one shares the conviction that we must accord first priority to nuclear safety, under all circumstances. It is the indispensable condition so that this energy can be one of the answers to the needs of man. The operational safety of nuclear facilities is taken into consideration from the initial design stage, and is regularly monitored, together with the implementation of an employee motivation policy and large-scale investment programmes. The Group’s nuclear safety policy is incorporated into training for both EDF employees and subcontractors. Nuclear safety is subject to internal controls (annual reviews, internal control plans and nuclear inspection audits in France) and external controls (peer reviews between corporate members of WANO (1) and OSART (2) audits conducted by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)). In France, safety of nuclear facilities is controlled by the ASN. In the United Kingdom, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is the independent watchdog authority for safety in the civil nuclear sector. It monitors compliance with safety rules, including for transportation of radioactive matter. The nuclear safety policy of the EDF group was redefined in 2017 (3) . SAFETY OF INDUSTRIAL 3.2.4

In 2017, the main areas of research were: increase in the performance of EDF’s hydropower plant , by developing tools ■ for the optimisation of maintenance and monitoring of the hydropower structures; improved operation of onshore wind power plants increasing the residual ■ lifespan in most cases: the topics examined concern tools for testing the blades, anticipating failure of key components, particularly the generator, best control of extreme constraints such as frost or repeated lightning; the operation of larger off shore wind turbines remains an important cost ■ cutting factor. The use of Alstom’s innovative technology 6MW Halliade turbine was the first major leap in the offshore segment. EDF EN has tested this technology on several prototypes, in collaboration with the supplier GE, and will install these turbines on the first major offshore wind farm sites in France in 2018-2020, for a total volume of 1,500MW. This power series is already exceeded with a 8MW series. This year, EDF EN has installed 5 Vestas turbines with this power capacity on the Blyth site in the United Kingdom; improving the efficiency of photovoltaic cells , extending the lifespan of ■ the panels, seeking the best performance with bi-facial modules (increased ground generation capacity of 5 to 25%); these continued efforts in PV to offer particularly low electricity prices: less than $18/MWh in sunny regions like Saudi Arabia. The Group also has to meet the challenge of integrating renewable energies that are intermittent in nature into the grids while studying it from various angles. EDF’s R&D participates in the European programme EU-SysFlex launched in November 2017. This four years program aims to demonstrate the potential of integrating a high rate of variable REs into a robust electricity system. To do this, the optimisation and coordinated management of flexibility services (centralised and decentralised storage, demand, conventional group and renewable energy services, etc.) will be developed and tested on six innovative demonstrators spread across Europe. EDF R&D provides technical coordination of the project in partnership with Irish transport network operator EirGrid and 32 other European partners. As part of the national call for projects for smart electricity grids and the regional project Flexgrid, EDF wants to use hydropower for the development of other renewable energies, photovoltaic energy, in particular. In this context, So Flexhy is the virtual power plant project on Durance, whose role will be to compensate for the production that is not ensured by other renewable energies, and photovoltaics, in particular. In addition, a research programme is underway focusing on energy storage with, in particular, an analysis aimed at characterising and optimising the potential of systems that couple pumped-storage hydropower plants and batteries. In the field of photovoltaic plants on land, EDF EN has implemented new test versions of the photovoltaic plants to reduce the intermittency of photovoltaic power, regulate the voltage, and finally modulate the capacity. This command and control was approved for a test power plant owned by EDF EN. It is presently being deployed on the Fouilloux PV power plant. Furthermore, as a provider of system services, including frequency tuning, EDF EN initiated plant qualification with RTE. However, a full contribution to frequency regulation requires energy storage. Lithium ion electrochemical batteries are a good solution for this, as they perform efficiently and have a good response time. Their current price makes them competitive for this function in many types of electricity system. A key aspect of the performance of these systems is the development of very high performance command and control, to enable an optimum response in the shortest time to capacity demands on the electricity system. The command and control is provided by EDF Store and Forecast, an R&D spin off of EDF. Furthermore, this year EDF EN installed a 49MW battery in the United Kingdom to provide frequency control and capacity reserve services (Call for tenders won in 2016).

World Association of Nuclear Operators. (1) Operational Safety Review Team. (2) See section 1.4.1.1.3 “Environment, nuclear safety, radiation protection” in France and 1.4.5.1.2.1 "Nuclear generation" in the UK. (3)

164

EDF I Reference Document 2017