Biomass: AREVA invests in bio-coal

  Biomass: AREVA invests in bio-coal

Business Wire

PARIS -- July 23, 2012

Regulatory News:

The AREVA group (Paris:AREVA), a major player in renewable energies, has
announced the acquisition of a technology enabling the production of bio-coal.
Based on the Thermya* torrefaction process, this unique technology, currently
being deployed commercially, produces plant fuel from biomass which can
replace fossil coal used in the production of thermal energy and electricity.

This operation enables AREVA to consolidate its position as a solutions
provider for energy with less CO[2]. It is in line with the group’s strategy
to broaden its offer in the field of renewable energies by placing a stronger
emphasis on technology.

Based in the southwest of France, a team of around twenty people already forms
part of this activity.

Luc Oursel, President and CEO of AREVA, declared: “This acquisition
strengthens our position in the field of renewable energies, and establishes
AREVA on the global bio-coal market, which has considerable potential. Thanks
to the acquisition of this unique torrefaction technology, and on the strength
of its subsidiary AREVA Bioenergy 35 years of experience, the group is
particularly well-placed to capture a significant share of the bio-coal
market.”

As an industrial pioneer in the field of bioenergy, AREVA is the leader on the
market for turnkey biomass plants and has played a role in the installation of
more than 5 000 MW of electric power worldwide.

* The torrefaction (or depolymerization) of biomass is a thermo-chemical
process aiming to eliminate water and alter part of the organic matter of
biomass to break down its fibers. Torrefied biomass (or bio-coal) offers a
number of benefits, including high energy density, hydrophobia, and increased
grindability.

MORE ABOUT

AREVA supplies solutions for power generation with less carbon. Its expertise
and unwavering insistence on safety, security, transparency and ethics are
setting the standard, and its responsible development is anchored in a process
of continuous improvement.

Ranked first in the global nuclear power industry, AREVA’s unique integrated
offering to utilities covers every stage of the fuel cycle, nuclear reactor
design and construction, and related services. The group is also expanding its
operations to renewable energies – wind, solar, bioenergies, hydrogen and
storage – to be one of the leaders in this sector worldwide.

With these two major offers, AREVA’s 48,000 employees are helping to supply
ever safer, cleaner and more economical energy to the greatest number of
people.

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F: +33 (0) 1 34 96 00 01

Contact:

AREVA
Press Office
Patricia Marie
Pauline Briand
Maxime Michaut
Jérôme Rosso
+33 (0) 1 34 96 12 15
F: +33 (0) 1 34 96 16 54
press@areva.com
or
Investor Relations
Marie de Scorbiac, +33 (0) 1 34 96 05 97
marie.descorbiac@areva.com
or
Philippine du Repaire, +33 (0) 1 34 96 11 51
philippine.durepaire@areva.com