The "Energy Resilience" AMI (Call for Innovative Projects) launched by the SATT Network and ADEME last August with a view to identifying technological solutions contributing to energy resilience has delivered on all its promises. A total of 34 innovative projects have been identified across France, demonstrating the mobilization of researchers on this forward-looking topic and the innovative capacity of French public research on a major issue for France's climate and energy sovereignty. Of these, 27 are now supported by the SATT Network, and some also by ADEME, with the aim of industrializing the most promising technologies by 2030.
Financing and supporting projects with high economic development potential
Responding to the challenges of climate change and securing France's energy supply... reducing dependence on fossil fuels is both a climate imperative and a matter of energy sovereignty. In support of this national challenge, the Call for Expressions of Interest (AMI) launched by theSATT NetworkandADEMEaimed to mobilize researchers working within the 13 SATT territories, representing 80% of French public research, on three priority areas: the complementarity of energy vectors in the face of supply uncertainties, the development of renewable energy production processes, and support for behavioral changes towards greater energy efficiency. Regional juries composed of SATT teams, ADEME experts, and representatives of competitiveness clusters, centers of excellence, or regions analyzed these solutions. Their criteria included: proof of concept in the laboratory, the objective of transfer to the socio-economic world, the lowest environmental impact of the proposed solutions, the possibility of establishing solid intellectual property, and an application target for 2030.
Strong mobilization of French public research
With 34 applications received from across the country, including 31 eligible projects and 27 reviewed by regional juries, the results of this strategic call for projects have lived up to expectations. The various energy vectors are represented in projects ranging from hydrogen production by electrolysis to the battery of the future, including heat and cold production by heat pumps, plasma methanation, electricity production from biogas, recovery of waste energy, and the development of electricity storage processes. Today, the majority of winners turn to SATTs for comprehensive support, both human and financial: in-depth analysis of market, legal, intellectual property, and transfer strategy dimensions; the possibility of pre-maturation and/or technological maturation financing; support for business creation, including the development of an entrepreneurial team or the creation of a startup; and support for technology transfer.
With the aim of ensuring continuity of funding and support between the two partners, ADEME will be able, after these maturation programs, to provide follow-up funding through the calls for projects it manages, in particular to support the industrialization of these technologies, which contribute to energy sovereignty while limiting environmental impacts.
The "Cycles" project
Now supported bySATT Paris-Saclayas part of a program dedicated to young PhD graduates, the "Cycles" project originated at the Institut Polytechnique de Paris. It proposes the development of a cold plasma methanation process. Methanation, which converts CO2 and green hydrogen (H2) into methane (CH4), is a promising decarbonization vector that captures and reduces global CO2 emissions while providing an excellent energy and storage vector. With this in mind, the innovative technique using cold plasmas enables the chemical reaction between carbon dioxide and hydrogen to be activated at low energy cost for the production of carbon-neutral methane. The technology, which has been tested in the laboratory at low flow rates, is currently at the prototype stage. The funding proposed by SATT Paris-Saclay will aim to optimize innovation with a view to increasing the flow rate and efficiency of this promising process.
The "Transition" project
Developed by the LRCS (Laboratory of Reactivity and Solid State Chemistry) CNRS / University of Picardie Jules Vernes and supported bySATT Nord, the "Transition" project proposes the development of a photovoltaic device dedicated to smart buildings. More specifically, it offers building glazing a new energy production function thanks to the development of non-intrusive, completely transparent, and colorless photovoltaic cells. While solar energy is particularly attractive, 90% of current technologies are made of silicon and can therefore only be used on roofs because they are opaque. In the context of urban densification and the verticalization of buildings, this technology appears to be a real solution for the future. It has also just been awarded the REV3 Energy Resilience prize by the Hauts-de-France region. Following a patent filed in 2020, the funding provided by SATT Nord will enable the technology's performance to be stabilized and its conversion efficiency optimized with a view to technology transfer to an industrial partner.
Contribute to the development of strategic national sectors
By saving valuable time in identifying innovative projects and accelerating their market launch and industrialization, this AMI also addresses the challenges set out in theFrance 2030 plan. Its success also bodes well for the development of future Calls for Expressions of Interest in support of various strategic French sectors. In particular, they will be able to feed projects into the funding provided for under the"Maturation/Pre-maturation" Call for Projects. Initiated by the State, this call for projects provides for the allocation of €275 million to 17 consortia led by SATTs and their partners to intensify support for high-potential innovation projects and accelerate their technology transfer to the socio-economic world, in line with national acceleration strategies. Priority sectors include digital health, sustainable agriculture, artificial intelligence, industrial decarbonization, and innovative buildings.