New Energy Technologies Demonstration Fund
In July 2008, a demonstration fund was created by three government ministries to provide EUR 400 million over four years to help finance the development of energy technologies for which there currently is no viable market. The fund is joint effort between the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Planning; the Ministry of Higher Education and Research; the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Employment, and is managed by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, ADEME. It was created on the recommendation of the Grenelle Environemnt Forum of October 2007. The fund targets manufacturers or public-private partnerships in need of financing for high-cost demonstration projects with experimental goals, for which market prospects are long-term. For 2008, the fund will have three calls for proposals in following areas: -Carbon capture and storage -Renewable energy (2nd generation biofuels) -Innovative transport systems, with low energy consumption and/or reduced greenhouse gas emissions Two calls for proposals for 2nd generation biofuels and low-emission vehicles were launched on 18 July and closed on 30 September 2008. Proposals are to be selected by the end of 2008. The second generation biofuels projects sought are those that will lay the basis for future production. Eligible technologies are: production by thermochemical means, essentially based on pyrolysis gasification, and production by biological means, based on enzyme hydrolysis and/or fermentation. The demonstration fund will give preference to the former, thermochemical, technology. The volume of biomass processed in each synthesis/gasification unit is also to exceed 1 million tonnes per year. Low-emission vehicle projects are requested to address one or more of the following elements -New traction chain technologies: Energy recovery, electric acceleration, transmission efficiency, use of batteries and super capacity. -Innovative electric motors: Reduced size and cost, mecatronic integration, wheel motor -Vehicle architecture combining reduced mass with electric or hybrid propulsion -Navigation systems: On-board electric and thermal energy management, heat management, vehicle behaviour -Battery performance and conditions for industrialisation, and battery charging technologies (time taken, safety) -Urban and/or multi-use zero emission or ultra low emission vehicles (ZEV and ULEV) -Hybrid or electric passenger transport vehicles
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