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Research program management

This text is extracted from the Activity Report 2010 of Laborelec ...

Identifying short, medium, and long-term research needs

The Laborelec Research Programs Department identifies and meets the short, medium, and long-term research needs of the entire electricity value chain:

  • Generation: clean coal, combined cycle, nuclear, renewable energy sources...
  • Transmission and distribution: asset management,power quality, smart grid technologies...
  • Energy consumption: end-use energy efficiency,sustainable transport, sustainable cities...

Creating value through research

Our research efforts are focused on achieving operational excellence and further expanding the Group’s business opportunities. To reach these goals, we rely upon our experiences in the field, as well as upon collaboration with power plants, grid operators, and industrial and tertiary companies. We also actively participate in several European collaborative research programs.

In addition, we consult with our Advisory Board (see text box) of university professors.

Paving the way to future success

Laborelec is also very active in prospective research.

We aim to anticipate new technological and business challenges for the GDF SUEZ Group. Hence, we are involved in several corporate GDF SUEZ research
programs—studying electric vehicles, carbon capture, ocean power, and desalination, to name a few. In these corporate research programs, our experts frequently cooperate with other GDF SUEZ research centres.

Ensuring efficient research

Laborelec has vast experience in conducting research internally. However, we also look for research synergies with companies, universities, research
centres, and various branches of GDF SUEZ. This to ensure that all the required know-how is available and that the research can be carried out as efficiently
as possible.

Advisory Board: scientific advice on research activities

The Advisory Board supplies Laborelec with research ideas and evaluates our existing research programs. In 2010, the Board consisted of ten professors from
Belgian, Dutch, English, and German universities, with specialties ranging from electromechanics to the environment and from thermodynamics to automation.
The Advisory Board meets twice a year.

Emmanuel De Jaeger
Scientific Director
Phone: +32 (0)2 382 02 62
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