In this third episode of #EnergyTalks, Bjorn Viguerie (Innovation Lead at TotalEnergies) and François Sorel (a journalist specializing in the latest trends and developments in the tech sector) use four standout TotalEnergies projects to examine how the Company is harnessing innovation to meet the challenges of the energy transition.

Pangea: a supercomputer for the energy transition

The Company has been using the Pangea supercomputer for several years. It has long been used to analyze seismic images to determine the structure of the subsoil and locate oil.

Pangea 4 is now bringing high-performance computing to all the Company’s activities and driving the energy transition, such as for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, wind flow simulations for the design and siting of wind farms, and the analysis of new polymers.

In 2024, the Company embraced high-performance computing in the cloud with Pangea@Cloud for two main reasons, namely to secure additional computing capacity and reduce the carbon footprint of its data centers.

Agrivoltaics: combining solar power generation with agricultural production

By installing solar photovoltaic panels on farmland, the Company is aiming to create sustainable synergies between renewable energy producers and farmers by improving how land is used to produce renewable electricity, while bringing greater value to each farm. Agrivoltaics is currently being trialed at pilot sites to determine which technology will create which value for which type of farming (wind barriers, shading, etc.).

The decision in 2023 to acquire Ombrea, an expert in this field, sends out a clear signal of the Company’s real desire to fast-track the development of this technology.

Charge points and batteries: innovating to promote new forms of mobility

In line with European regulations, which require car manufacturers to stop producing combustion engine vehicles by 2035, TotalEnergies’ ambition is to “ensure that electric vehicles are just as easy to use as combustion engine vehicles” (Bjorn Viguerie).

The Company is developing a network of electric charge points to cater for the widest range of needs, such as along major roads, at our service stations, within certain businesses, in major cities and at private homes.

To maintain its leadership status in the market, TotalEnergies must continue to stay ahead of the innovation curve and deliver the best possible service to its users. “We need to ensure that our charge points are the best and the most effective” (Bjorn Viguerie).

The Company's R&D teams are also looking at EV batteries, especially the fluids used to regulate battery temperature during high-power recharging to prevent any risk of a fire.

AUSEA: a drone for measuring methane emissions

Launched in 2022, the AUSEA drone-mounted technology is designed to detect and measure methane and CO₂ emissions at industrial sites.

Methane was especially brought into the spotlight during the COP28 conference.

TotalEnergies wants to see all its industrial sites equipped with the AUSEA technology, as well as its partners’ sites, so that the energy industry can make a collective commitment to reducing methane emissions.

Watch the replay of this #EnergyTalk