[en] Using the same effective interaction depending only on 6 parameters a large number of nuclear properties are calculated, and the results are compared with experiment. Total binding energies of all nuclei of the chart table are reproduced within 5MeV. It is shown that the remaining discrepancy is coherent with the increase of total binding energy that can be expected from the further inclusion of collective motion correlations. Monopole, quadrupole and hexadecupole part of the charge densities are also reproduced with good accuracy. The deformation energy curves of many nuclei ranging from carbon to superheavy elements are calculated, and the different features of these curves are discussed. It should be noted that the fission barrier of actinide nuclei has been obtained and the results exhibit the well known two-bump shape. In addition the fusion energy curve of two ¹⁶O merging in one nucleus ³²S has been completed. Results concerning monopole, dipole and quadrupole giant resonances of light nuclei obtained within the frame of the generator coordinate method are also presented. The calculated position of these resonances agree well with present available data

[en] Based on wind energy data from six western European countries (offshore as well as ground-based production, notably in Denmark, Germany, France, Spain, and United Kingdom), the author analyzes the limitations of the wind energy burgeoning associated with the sum of productions which may be thousands of kilometres apart. He shows that these data and the associated burgeoning are, in first approximation, well reproduced by a simple application of random rules. He shows that this burgeoning hardly results in a smoothing of wind energy production. He states that, therefore, the projected construction of a new cross-border grid of high-voltage lines will not contribute to mitigate the difficulties generated by this specific production for the management of national and European power grids

[en] This summer, the media have abundantly reported that the el-Hierro island in the Canaries could now count on a 100 % renewable electric mix. As a matter of fact, these reports were based on only two hours during which the Gorona del Viento (GdV) installation managed to reach the objectives announced in the project document. Full of enthusiasm, Segolene Royal, the French minister of environment and energy, rewarded the project on behalf of the 'Syndicat des energies Renouvelables' What is the situation today for this installation inaugurated in June 2014? a considerable investment, leading to a complex system with more than 34 MW of installed production power (diesel, wind and hydraulic turbines, each for about one third) when the peak electric demand is only 7.6 MW that is a factor four less. The reality of the performances after six months of effective exploitation: the renewable fraction for the three most favourable months, July to September, has been 42 %. For the half year, the figure is even more disappointing with only 30 % renewables. The reasons behind these very modest performances with respect to the announced goal, which, moreover for the year 2015, lead to a considerable cost of the renewable MWh which is going to cost four times more than the MWh produced by the diesel plant and a cost of the avoided CO_2 exceeding 1000 Euro/ton? As shown in this document, they are first the limited wind resource, which according to data could not have allowed a renewable fraction larger than 50 % and second, the nature of the contract signed by the Spanish state which does not encourage GdV to strive for the optimal environmental performances. To summarize: unrealistic objectives, deplorable governance and a technical semi-failure very costly for the Spanish citizen. (author)

[en] Based on the study of wind energy production in France and in Western Europe (7 countries), the authors aim at assessing two main aspects of the strategy in the use of this energy the production of which significantly varies: the reality of an efficient proliferation and the relevance of a massive storage of excess production (during strong wind periods) under the form of a storable renewable energy (hydrogen produced by electrolysis). Results are not very promising: proliferation does not result in a significant level of guaranteed power and hydrogen production efficiency is still very uncertain

[en] After having outlined that France has a very good ratio of greenhouse gas production with respect to energy production, due to the important share of nuclear energy, the author criticises the French law on energy transition (LTE) and proposes an assessment of the French energy mix and energy production by 2030 if the LTE objectives are respected. He notably analyses the evolutions and variations of intermittent energy production, and states that the huge investments in wind, photovoltaic and sea energy will have at best no impact or at worst a negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Thus the objective of reduction of these emissions will have to rely on other sectors (heating and transports), that which will require additional investments

[en] Even if the Sein Island emits less CO₂ emissions than 700 vehicles, the Government set an objective of 50 per cent for renewable energy production within its multi-year energy planning (PPE). The objectives of the authors is herein to analyse the credibility of these PPE objectives, more particularly as far as electric power autonomy is concerned. They used available and precise data related to the island's energy consumption. They show that this 50 per cent coverage can indeed be reached, but with investments which are not justified when the population size and current resulting pollution are considered. They also outline that diesel engines will still be used from time to time, and that their emissions will not even be reduced as diesel units will not operate in optimal regime. Therefore, they regret that such objectives have been imposed to the island without any detailed preliminary study

[en] This document proposes a critical point of view on the scenario developed by the ADEME on the potential of electricity production by renewable energies by 2025/2030. According to this scenario, nuclear power is divided by two and the fleet of intermittent renewable energies (wind and photovoltaic) is multiplied by seven. This report assesses the investments costs associated with this intermittent fleet and with a necessary adaptation of the high voltage and distribution grids. It also outlines that massive imports of energy could be necessary when the production of these renewable sources is at its low point. It notices that stopping half of the nuclear fleet will entail a loss of revenues which will not take benefit of a reduction of greenhouse gas

[en] This publication discusses the content of a report by the French Court of Auditors which addressed the development of renewable energies while taking the issue of intermittency and the consequences of the introduction of intermittent sources in the electric grid into account. The author identifies some limitations and insufficiencies in this report: it only addressed renewable energies whereas the notion of energy transition integrates other aspects such as energy efficiency, it does not discuss the decision of decreasing the share of nuclear energy from 78.5 to 50 per cent by 2025, its does not mention some economical consequences of the development of renewable energies, and it only uses data produced by the ADEME. The author recalls and comments some basic data related to CO₂ emissions, to electricity cost and price in France. He discusses the issue and level of over-costs related to renewable energies, comments the policy of financial support to renewable energies, the progression of renewable energies and the fact that target figures are not yet reached as far as renewable electricity, renewable heat production, social and economical aspects, and climate are concerned

[en] Nuclear fission is presently a contested method of electricity production. The issue of nuclear waste management stands out among the reasons why. On the other hand, the nuclear industry has demonstrated its capacity to reliably generate cheap electricity while producing negligible amounts of greenhouse gases. These assets explain why this form of energy is still considered among the options for the long term production of electricity at least in developed countries. However, in order to tackle the still not adequately answered question of the waste, new schemes may have to be considered. Among those which have been advanced recently, the less polluting cycles such as those based on Thorium rather than Uranium and/or the transmutation of the minor actinides and some long lived fission products of the present cycle have been actively investigated. In both cases, it turns that the basic knowledge underlying these methods is either missing or incomplete. This situation opens a window of opportunity for useful contributions from basic nuclear physicists. This article describes some of them and presents the ongoing activities as well as some of the projects put forth for the short or medium term

[en] This document proposes a critical point of view on the scenario developed by the ADEME on the potential of electricity production by renewable energies by 2025/2030. According to this scenario, nuclear power is divided by two and the fleet of intermittent renewable energies (wind and photovoltaic) is multiplied by seven. This report assesses the investments costs associated with this intermittent fleet and with a necessary adaptation of the high voltage and distribution grids. It also outlines that massive imports of energy could be necessary when the production of these renewable sources is at its low point. It notices that stopping half of the nuclear fleet will entail a loss of revenues which will not take benefit of a reduction of greenhouse gas