FOREWORDS OF THE DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FOR FRANCE

AND SOUTHERN FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES,

GUEST-EDITOR OF THIS SPECIAL ISSUE


In France, activities on solar energy have started early, with the construction of the solar furnace of Mont-Louis in 1947, and of the big solar furnace in Odeillo around 1970 by CNRS, close to the former. Then, in 1983, an experimental solar powerplant was built in Targasonne, also in the south of France, but was stopped prematurely. It is significant that this experimental powerplant, which has inspired several models of so called “tower powerplants” over the world, is now rehabilitated, and gives the opportunity to experience new processes in near future.

For now, several french organisms, institutions, and associations, are working entirely or partially in the development and the use of renewable energies, and for the improvement of sustainable development approaches. We can mention ADEME (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie – Agency of Environment and Mastering of Energy), CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research), ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche – National Agency for Research), EDF and particularly EDF-EN (Electricité de France; Energies Nouvelles – Electricity of France; renewable energies), ministries of research, for sustainable develop-ment, etc.

 

 

In southern countries, the same tendency is appearing, in particular with the appearance of structures for developping specifically the renewable energies. It is highly desirable in future to follow a global approach, in particular for optimizing the use of desert zones for energy production and for organizing research and industrialization in the frame of the sustainable development.

For all these reasons, this special issue is certainly a pale reflect of the forthcoming volumes in next years! If, nevertheless, this volume of ISJAEE may modestly help in structuring collaborations between southern and northern countries, it will play a significant role in the right direction.

Opening of the international meeting Energaia on renewable energies,
organized by the
Conseil Régional Languedoc-Roussillon

Montpellier (France) 6-8 december 2007

 
Professor Pierre SAINT-GREGOIRE

University of Nîmes (France) - stgreg@ferroix.net

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