Environmentally friendly and limitless, renewable energies supplement fossil fuels, and are expected to play a major role in the years to come. Total is committed to developing biomass , photovoltaic solar energy , and wind and water energy .

A proactive biofuels strategy

Made up of organic matter from living organisms, biomass is the world's leading renewable energy source. It not only has heat and power applications, but is also used for biofuels. Because it is renewable, it helps to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

As Europe's leading marketer of biofuels, Total has supported their development since 1992. Today, we blend 900,000 metric tons into automotive fuels sold in Europe. We are active in the two main first-generation biofuels:

• Ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) derived from ethanol. We own or are partners in seven ETBE production facilities in Belgium, France, Germany and Spain.
• Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), known as vegetable oil methyl esters (VOME) in some countries. We blend FAME in diesel at our refineries and depots in France, Germany and Italy.

To meet targets set by the European Union, we will have to develop new biofuel technologies. Total is already devoting considerable R&D resources to identify and develop second-generation biofuels to supplement the existing offering and expand the base of bioresources used, while improving overall environmental performance.

In 2006, we continued our partnership research and initiatives on various innovative bioenergy and biofuel processes and technologies. A strong believer in more R&D programs involving everyone with a stake in the new biomass processes, we participate in various initiatives to fund, support and direct bioenergy research. They include France's Enerbio fund, the European Biofuels Technology Platform and France's National Bioenergy Research Program (PNRB).

Photovoltaic solar energy, an industrial commitment

Photovoltaic energy is produced when sunlight, one of the planet's most abundant renewable resources, is converted directly into power via solar cells. Involved in solar energy for over 20 years, Total is positioned across the photovoltaic chain through our subsidiaries:

• Tenesol⁽¹⁾   designs, installs and maintains equipment. Two Tenesol subsidiaries manufacture the solar panels: Tenesa in South Africa and Tenesol Technologies in France, which inaugurated its new production line, the first of its kind in Europe, on December 2, 2006  in Toulouse.  To learn more about Tenesol
• Photovoltech ⁽²⁾ produces high-performance photovoltaic cells.

On average, photovoltaic solar panels transform between 10 to 15% of the solar energy captured into electricity and are especially suited for decentralized rural electrification. We are taking part in three large-scale programs of this type, in South Africa, Mali and Morocco, benefiting 210,000 people at end-2006.

To learn more about these programs.

We are also participating in similar initiatives worldwide. In Venezuela, for example, as part of the Amaruco⁽³⁾   Delta project, health care centers, schools and 2,000 homes will have solar-panel-generated electricity by end-2007. Production sites will also be served. The panels are being supplied and installed by Tenesol. In Colombia, Tenesol Colombia will be installing photovoltaic equipment in 92 rural schools in 35 towns, attended by 6,500 children. Every year, 75,000 kWh of energy will be generated, avoiding emissions of around 68 metric tons of greenhouse gas.

Total is involved in several forward-looking R&D projects to:

• Enhance the appearance of solar panels.
• Reduce their cost and limit raw silicon requirements.
• Develop second-generation silicon-free cells and third-generation cells to convert solar energy into chemical energy.

A solid commitment to wind energy

The five wind turbines at the Mardyck wind farm in northern France came on stream in 2003 and produce the equivalent of the average domestic consumption (excluding heating) of 15,000 people.

In 2005, we were selected by the French Ministry of Industry to build a large-scale wind farm in the Aveyron department in southwestern France, in partnership with Germany's RWE. From 2009, the project's thirty 3 MW wind turbines will supply power equivalent to the average domestic consumption (excluding heating) of 140,000 people, avoiding emissions of 100,000 metric tons of CO₂ a year.

We are also looking at a proposed wind farm generating over 100 MW offshore Dunkirk. Though a technical and people challenge, it is also an opportunity to take wind energy to the next level.

Positions in ocean and wave energy

Total has a strong interest in R&D projects in progress on ocean and wave energy. We have a 10% interest in a pilot project on the northern coast of Spain.

In 2006, we acquired an  interest in Scotrenewables Marine Power Ltd. Based in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, the company specializes in the development of tidal turbine technology.

⁽¹⁾ A 50/50 joint venture with Electricité de France.
⁽²⁾ Total is a founding shareholder, alongside Electrabel and Interuniversity MicroElectronics Center (IMEC), and had a 47.8% interest in 2006.