The Center for Energy and Processes (CEP), which was set up in 1976 is run by Didier MAYER. It is one of the most important research centers at the Ecole des Mines de Paris (EMP). It currently has a staff of around 160, as well as 100 students, spread over three locations: Paris, Fontainebleau and Sophia Antipolis.

The CEP conducts research in a range of domains useful in studying the transformation of matter and energy, in order to study complex energy systems. This diversity is a key factor in enabling the centre to carry out its double mission of training, and making the most recent technological developments widely known. Each of the Center’s three sites conducts research in the following three main areas: (1) Energy, processes and the environment (including transport), (2) Energy infrastructures, (3) Nanomaterials and energy. A number of approaches are put into practice, including methodological and experimental studies and modelling, technological innovations, and general studies on energy and the environment.

In Sophia Antipolis, there are about sixty staff and fifty students at CEP. The research activities are divided among the following four teams:

enr

EnR – Renewable Energy (manager: Georges KARINIOTAKIS): Thermal and photovoltaic conversion of solar energy: applied to buildings and autonomous systems – Wind power: resource prediction and integration into an electricity-free market – Hybrid and mini-grid systems: sizing, performance analysis, energy management, operational optimization – Energy planning.

emp

EM&P – Energy, Materials & Processes (manager: Patrick ACHARD): Development of materials with energy application and structural characteristics: silica or carbon aerogels and xerogels; organic, inorganic and hybrid (transparent insulation, superinsulation, electrode materials) – Processes for the storage and conversion of energy: hydrogen industry, fuel cells, super-capacities, new techniques for storing and fuel re-forming (non-polluting vehicles, co-generation for stationary applications, portable applications).

plasma

Plasma (group leader: Laurent FULCHERI): Development of thermal and non-thermal plasma processes for energy and environmental issues - Fuel Conversion (fossil and biomass) : reforming, gasification, Gas to Liquid transformation - Gas phase synthesis of nanomaterials (Carbon and TiO2) oriented towards energy related applications.

omd

OMD – Observation, Modeling and Decisions (manager: Thierry RANCHIN): Development and application of methods for estimating geophysical parameters and other information, for renewable energy (i.e., solar, wind) – Representation of spatial information (GIS: geographical information systems).

Most of the Center’s PhD students are enrolled either at the “Energy” doctoral school (run by Lucien WALD) or at the EMP’s “Process Engineering” school (run by Dominique RICHON).

CEP SOPHIA is actively involved in training the State Technical Corps Engineers as well as EMP Civil Engineers: Common-core syllabus – Specialized teaching – “Machines-Energy” Option – Personalized teaching: general integration modules and individual project work (Acte d’Entreprendre). The Center carries out TPES (specialized teaching practical work) in its own laboratories during both the ATHENS-ParisTech European events and option periods.

CEP SOPHIA oversees the following two specialized courses:

Mastère spécialisé européen in Renewable Energies – EUREC

Official Website: http://www.eurec.be/
Core taught pages at Sophia Antipolis

Master spécialisé "International Energy Management" – ALEF – in cooperation with INSA Lyon and Tsinghua University (Beijing).

Website: http://am2e.ensmp.fr

CEP Sophia is also involved in the Mastère spécialisé in “Energy Engineering and Management”– OSE

Website: http://www.ose.cma.fr

A Teaching Coordination Unit (CCE – manager: François-Pascal NEIRAC) is responsible for coordinating CEP SOPHIA’s teaching activities.

Individually designed training sessions for companies are also organized on a regular basis, in the form of specialized weekly courses (e.g. on GIS).

Website: http://www-cep.cma.fr/