50 avenue du Lac Léman
Technopôle Savoie Technolac
73375 Le Bourget du Lac
France
The thermal technology platform is unique in Europe, in terms of both its size and the scope of its R&D activities, which span technologies to produce thermal energy (concentrated solar power), store it for later use, and use it efficiently for industrial applications like heat pumps, boilers, and thermal exchangers.
The R&D carried out at the platform involves around 50 industrial partners, including major corporations like ENGIE, Saint Gobain, Total and ALCEN. These partners hope to improve the energy performance of their industrial processes by optimizing heat transfer and by introducing thermal storage systems.
CEA Thermal Technology
CEA Thermal Technology
The platform possesses an extraordinary range of equipment: two concentrated solar power plants of more than 1,000 sq.m, approximately 20 instrumented test loops, and thermal storage demonstrators (phase-change-material on a highpressure steam circuit, oil on rock bed, and stacked ceramic on a high-temperature—up to 1,200°C—air circuit).
A team of 75 researchers and technicians work with industrial and academic partners on leading edge projects. Services include feasibility studies, prototype development, testing, security analysis, and benchmarking.