All solutions need to be explored to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, specially developing renewable energies such as photovoltaic solar energy, biofuels, wind power, ocean energy.

Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Total’s involvement in photovoltaic solar energy dates back to 1983 through its joint subsidiary with Electricité de France, Total Energie (today Tenesol) (1). Total's involvement in this technology spans cell manufacture, through our 47.8%-owned Belgian subsidiary Photovoltech, system design and rural electrification programs.

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, providing maintenance, repair and after-sales support services:

• South Africa: 8,200 households equipped, and 15,000 planned by mid-2007.
• Morocco: 22,000 households equipped at end of 2005, 58,000 planned by end-2008.
• Mali: 500 households equipped, 5,500 planned.
  
  
  
  Photovoltaic solar energy in South Africa

(1) Total and EDF both hold 50% of Tenesol

Biomass and Biofuels
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.

Total is a European leader in biofuels, and has supported their development since 1992. Today, we blend some 800,000 metric tons a year in the automotive fuels we sell 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, Germany, France and Spain,
• and vegetable oil methyl ester (VOME). We  blend VOME in diesel in our refineries 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 this goal, based on partnerships with recognized operators in the field. We aim to identify and develop second-generation biofuels to supplement the existing offering. Through a partnership with Neste Oil, for example, we are examining the feasibility of producing a synthetic biodiesel (NExBTL).

Wind power
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 the country's largest onshore wind farm , in the Aveyron department in southwestern France. From 2008, the project's 30 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.

Ocean energy
In mid-2005, we invested in wave and tidal power with the acquisition of a 10% interest in a pilot project off the northern coast of Spain, designated PowerBuoy. The technology for this prototype will subsequently be extended to France.

Total also acquired in June 2006 a 10% interest in Scotrenewables Marine Power Ltd., based in Scotland’s Orkney Islands, that is developing an electricity generation technology based on tidal turbines.