The Laboratory PROcesses, Materials and Solar Energy (PROMES) is a French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) laboritory. It is closely associated with the University of Perpignan Via Domitia. PROMES Lab depends on two Scientific Departments of CNRS : Engineering Sciences (SPI) and Chemical Sciences (SC). It has two sites : the "Félix Trombe Solar Furnace" Centre in Odeillo - Font-Romeu and, 100km away, the "Tecnosud" Centre at the University of Perpignan.
PROMES Laboratory is managed by Gilles Flamant.
Objectives
The laboratory's mission is the development of science enad technology that use unique properties of concentrated solar energy to enhance and create new applications of this renewable energy resource. The mission includes researches on materials and processes in the context of sustainable development.
About the laboratory
- The laboratory has about 100 employees including 40 researchers, teachers and engineers.
- The laboratory has two locations :
- Odeillo - Font-Romeu with the 1 MWsolar furnace ; ten 1,5 and 2 kW solar furnaces with vertical or horizontal axis, a 6kW vertical-axis furnace. Concentration ranges from 6000 to 16000. A Dish-Stirling system for solar electricity generation (10kWe).
- Perpignan, prototypes for energy storage and transformation, 140 m2of photovoltaic panels, a Technology Transfer Centre (UMS - CARTECH).
Laboratory Organization
The laboratory is organized in research teams and departments. Six research teams (including a common team CNRS/DGA) develop researches related to the three main topics. Two teams, one located in Odeillo, the other one located in Perpignan are devoted to each topic. Four departments provide technical and administrative assistance.
PROMES and Europe
The solar facilities of PROMES are opened to European scientists as a European Research Infrastructure in the FP6 Programme "Transnational Access and Integrating Activities".
PROMES Lab is a founding member of the European Alliance of Laboratories SolLab : European Alliance of Laboratories for Research and Technologies on Solar Concentrating Systems.
The laboratory participates in many European Research Projects. ( lien International Activities).
Scientific and Technical Information
PROMES Lab (in Odeillo) hosts a science information Centre: "The harnessed sun", which is opened round the year. (lien Expo) . |
