Les énergies renouvelables. État de l'art et perspectives de développement

Here are presented the renewable energies composed of all energy sources deriving directly or indirectly from the sun, including solar, wind and hydraulic energies as well as the energies available from bioconversion. These energies are characterised by the fact that they are inexhaustible but available only in limited quantities at a given place and time. They have only a very slight impact on the environment. The development of renewable energy sources in Europe will receive a strong stimulus in the coming decade by the adoption of a European directive on electricity from renewable sources, designed to foster compliance with the European commitments made in Kyoto. In France, the goal is to increase the portion of electrical energy from renewable sources from 15 to 21% by 2010.