TotalEnergies is striving to achieve net zero by 2050. To reach its goal, the Company is reinventing itself and diversifying its energy offer to propose more decarbonized, renewable energies and encourage responsible use of fossil energies. TotalEnergies is fast-tracking the implementation of a diversified energy mix, in which solar and wind power play a major role. New CSTJF competences.
A team of architects at the CSTJF
To increase the share of renewable energies, solutions need to be found to offset the intermittence of solar and wind power generation, which depend on weather conditions. This means developing hybrid solutions that combine different types of energies and, in particular flexible, controllable generation capacities to meet customer demand at any time, and guarantee grid reliability. A new area of expertise for the CSTJF, which now has a team of seven architects dedicated to the development of hybrid, flexible, renewable energy projects.
"TotalEnergies’ objective is to produce more than 100 TWh of electricity per year by 2030. According to the IEA’s Net Zero scenario, the share of green energies in the global energy mix should considerably increase, from 16% in 2020 to 29% in 2030, and 64% in 2050. Renewable and transition energies, natural gas in particular, will play a decisive role in meeting the growing electricity demand worldwide and curbing global warming".
Julien Lelaurin,
Hybrid, Thermal & Storage Architect
What are the missions of the "Hybrid, Thermal & Storage" architects?
They are engineers in the Industrial Hub of the OneTech branch, and part of a larger team of around sixty project managers or architects in the Power entity, working in the Company’s different sites in Paris, Lyon, Le Havre and recently, Pau. The Power Customer Line is tasked with overseeing the technical studies that aim to develop low-carbon electrical projects: solar farms, onshore and offshore wind farms, hydroelectric projects, high-yield gas-fired power plants, battery-based energy storage systems, and hybrid solutions combining all of these technologies on the same site.
Architects monitor the entire life cycle of the projects, from the feasibility studies through the design stage to the final investment decision. They are in charge of coordinating the technical specialists called in to work on the project and are responsible for the technical quality of the studies. As part of the development of renewable energy projects, architects play a key role: they assess the renewable energy potential of the site selected and design electrical generation systems integrating different energy sources, such as renewables (solar and wind), conventional (gas turbines), and batteries.
They also study the viability of projects, considering the local regulatory constraints, land availability, and the connection points to the electrical grid. Another of their remits is to estimate the reduction of CO₂ emissions. Evaluating the investment costs (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX), including the repowering¹ potential of the batteries, is a fundamental step to ensure the financial viability of the project.
Abroad, in partnership with TotalEnergies’ affiliates, architects also work on the projects’ contractual aspects, particularly by analyzing the different possible contractual schemes, preparing the contracts’ technical appendices, and consulting and negotiating with the subcontractors/EPCs in preparation for project execution. With their technical skills and contractual expertise, they are therefore key players in the realization of renewable energy projects.
The projects in progress include a solar plant of more than 8 GW coupled with a battery farm of around 15 GWh in Singapore, major hybrid projects in South Africa, Morocco, Australia and the United Kingdom, Battery Energy Storage Systems, or BESS to help the grids integrate more renewables in Europe and the United States. The architects also use their competencies to ensure the operational efficiency of TotalEnergies’ sites, where energy optimization and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are priorities. The plan is to install solar panels on oil & gas production sites to reduce fuel gas consumption, and possibly replace methane with hydrogen as a fuel.
Focusing on synergies between competencies
The Hybrid, Thermal & Storage architects all have very different backgrounds. Some have spent their careers in Exploration & Production, in geosciences, petroleum architecture, operations, R&D, projects, or technical specialties, and others have worked exclusively in renewable energies. They have between 10 and 15 years’ experience and have a close working relationship with the technology experts at the CSTJF (and other sites) meaning that they know where to look to find “the right people” for each project. Their knowledge of the competencies available in-house is a real plus point for optimizing development studies.
"The originality of the hybrid, thermal and storage sector lies in the wide range of topics we address by definition, hybridization combines several types of energies, and there are an infinite number of possible combinations depending on the project. Because it’s so varied, we work with specialists from very different backgrounds, and we can be creative and innovative: we never get bored in hybrid, thermal & storage architecture!"
Pierre-Olivier Lys,
Hybrid, Thermal & Storage Architect
[1] Repowering involves replacing all or part of the batteries installed with new ones, to ensure the durability of their storage capacity (which dwindles naturally over time).