Research and development
As a centre of technical excellence, EDF research and development is helping Britain achieve net zero.
Research, development and innovation are at the heart of EDF
Our vision is: “Accelerating the transition to a sustainable, low carbon society through the development and testing of new technologies and business models.”
EDF R&D UK is advancing research in the fields of Nuclear (Modelling and Simulation; Natural Hazards and Environment; Waste and Decommissioning), Off Shore Wind, Energy Systems, Flexibility & Storage, Zero Emissions Mobility, Integrated Energy Hubs & Low Carbon Hydrogen and Smart Digital Technologies (Artificial Intelligence and Applied Data Science).
By coupling the advances in science and engineering with the emergence of new digital innovations EDF R&D UK is providing groundbreaking solutions to policymakers, partners and customers in order to realise our vision.
The latest R&D projects at EDF
Crew transfers for offshore wind farms could be improved thanks to new research
EDF, The University of Strathclyde, and Miros are working together to research and test the ORACLES (Offshore Renewable ACess Loss Estimation & Safety) forecasting methodology at Teesside offshore wind farm.
ORACLES+ will use a diverse set of operational data to better forecast key access conditions for crew transfer operations. The forecasts will be tested at every stage of the decision-making process, from site supervisor to marine co-ordinator to vessel master and turbine technician, to ensure better vessel dispatch and crew transfer decisions. On a large offshore wind farm site improved operational decision-making could deliver financial benefits in excess of £1m a year.
Helping rural communities benefit from electric vehicles
We want to make sure rural communities also benefit from the electrification of transport. So we’re delighted that our R&D UK Centre’s Rural Electric Mobility Enabler (REME) project has won funding from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and Innovate UK to help do just that!
Led by EDF, the project is breaking down technological and commercial barriers to the roll-out of EV infrastructure in remote rural areas.
Working closely with Field Dynamics, DG Cities, Bonnet, and Devon County Council we’re creating innovative solutions to build the EV infrastructure of the future, wherever it’s needed.
R&D mobilised to meet the challenges of floating offshore wind energy
Connections, maintenance and environmental impact are all key issues to which R&D is fully committed. Marie Berthelot, Head of R&D Renewables and Offshore Wind R&D project leader at the R&D UK Centre, focusses on the area of maintenance.
Maintaining and repairing moving infrastructures on the high seas is an extraordinary technical and logistical challenge. The aim is to ensure the safety of operators and reduce maintenance costs.
Through a variety of projects, this team is committed to the overall objective of helping Britain achieve Net Zero.
R&D UK Centre wins exciting Hydrogen competition bid
We are proud to announce that the R&D UK Centre have successfully won a Zero Emission Road Transport competition bid thanks to support from Midlands Engine, the Energy Research Accelerator and Cenex.
The funding competition is run by Innovate UK on behalf of the Department of Transport and will invest up to £10 million into Hydrogen truck innovation projects across the UK.
Welcome to our CommUNITY!
A pilot project designed to test the new infrastructure to support a local energy market based on Peer-To-Peer (P2P) energy trading. The proposed market is trialled on a “live site” comprising of a multi-tenant building in Brixton, London. Residents are able to source energy from a solar PV system on the roof and trade energy with one another using a blockchain platform and a smart phone app. Participants not only can use local, green energy but decide what to do with it whilst reducing their electricity bill.
Protection from outer space hazards
Here at the R&D UK Centre, we help to keep energy infrastructure safe from natural hazards such as coastal flooding, climate change, and space weather. Space weather occurs when solar flares fire charged plasma towards Earth, which can damage electrical transformers when not adequately prepared for.
We collaborated with geomagnetism experts from the British Geological Survey, to use computer simulations to characterise the effects of space weather. Using data from the most severe space weather events in history, we can predict which areas of the electricity network are most vulnerable.
This year we are updating our simulations to prepare the next generation of UK nuclear power stations for space weather risks.
Meet the EDF R&D team in the UK
4 teams
60 full-time researchers, 24 PhD students and over 15 different nationalities
Based across 4 locations
Digital Innovation team
The Digital Innovation team is leading the company’s research into cutting-edge digital technologies. Their aim is to explore how digital can improve the operational safety and efficiency of EDF's fleet of power stations and transform the way customers use energy. A constant focus is the use of technology to enable the sustainable use of energy. Current priorities include artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain.
Nuclear team
The Nuclear team manages and delivers a portfolio of programmes supporting the safety, performance and life extension operation of the existing nuclear fleet in the UK; the preparation of its decommissioning plan; and the development of new build projects, including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. The team acts as an internal centre of expertise in Modelling & Simulation and Natural Hazards & Environment.
Renewables team
The Renewables team is a multi-disciplinary team, provides support to EDF at a Group level in Offshore Wind, Onshore Wind and Marine Energy. Their aim is now to apply and expand skills to help EDF succeed in its Renewable projects across the world and reach its 2030 targets. The key priority is to help reduce costs of Renewables.
Smart Customers team
The Smart Customers team covers the key research areas of Global and Local Energy Systems; People, Processes & Buildings and Data Acquisition. They undertake research and develop demonstration projects in the fields of new market and system design, such as peer to peer trading and smart grids; system flexibility and energy storage; smart cities; electric and autonomous vehicles; low carbon heat and smart homes and businesses.
Collaborations, academic partners and research
Celebrating early careers development in the R&D UK Centre!
Did you know that nearly a quarter of employees within the R&D UK Centre have come through the early careers pipelines and development schemes?
Successful first of its kind virtual PhD day at the R&D UK Centre!
A very successful event with over 100 attendees during the day across EDF BUs as well as colleagues from EDF R&D in France, 20 PhD presentations from various universities such as Manchester, Bristol, Imperial and Strathclyde and representing all the different groups we have at the UK Centre. We are looking forward to organising a similar event in 2022 !
Our research publications
The Research staff in our teams Smart Customers, Renewables, Nuclear and Digital Innovation, have had numerous academic papers published on a variety of interesting technical topics.
Find out more
Ideas and innovation blog
Read our latest energy guides, advice, innovation and news as we work to help Britain achieve Net Zero.
Our education programmes
Inspiring young people is at the heart of our educational strategy, and it is through a number of educational programmes we help children understand that low carbon, secure and affordable energy supply is vital for the future.
