PROMES CNRS

What PROMES CNRS does

PROMES CNRS (PROcédés Matériaux et Energie Solaire) is a French public research laboratory operating as Unité Propre du CNRS (UPR 8521) under CNRS Ingénierie (INSIS), with a convention partnership with the Université de Perpignan Via Domitia. The laboratory concentrates on solar energy research spanning concentrated solar power (solar towers, particle receivers, parabolic troughs), solar thermochemical fuel production via CO2 and H2O splitting, plasma-based materials processing and thin film deposition, and thermal energy storage. It operates from three sites in southern France: the Odeillo-Font-Romeu headquarters hosting the 1 MW Grand Four Solaire solar furnace with 10,000 heliostats, the Thémis 5 MW solar tower at Targassonne, and an administrative and research presence at the Tecnosud technology park in Perpignan.

The laboratory serves the global solar research community rather than commercial customers, with over 100 researchers from CNRS and UPVD supported by an accumulated record of approximately 1,000 scientific publications, 100 defended theses, and 20 patents. Operating funds flow from CNRS core allocations, French national research grants (ANR, ADEME), and European Commission programs (Horizon Europe, FEDER). Distribution of research outputs occurs through peer-reviewed publications, contributions to IRENA and IPCC reports, conference leadership (SolarPACES under the IEA, JNES), and technology transfer via three documented spin-offs (CSP-Now, SESA, CSP-BOOST). The laboratory is governed by CNRS with site directors and a research federation (FREE) coordinating seven UPVD laboratories, and is currently led by Director Françoise Massines (since January 1, 2024).

Name

PROMES CNRS

Legal name

Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

Website

https://promes.cnrs.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PROMES CNRS is a French public research laboratory (CNRS UPR 8521) that conducts solar energy research across concentrated solar power, solar fuels, plasma materials processing, and thermal storage, serving the global research community from three sites in southern France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

CSP Plant Development & EPC (Parabolic Trough, Tower, Linear Fresnel, Dish) (EUACAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) EPC (EUAEAAAH), Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ), DERMS Platforms & Utility Integration (ADMS/SCADA Integration, Hosting Capacity) (EUAFAHAF)

Keywords

• Concentrated solar power
• Solar thermochemistry research
• Solar materials science
• Particle-based thermal storage
• Solar fuels production

Headquarters

HQ city

Font-romeu

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Core funding from CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) and convention with Université de Perpignan Via Domitia. Additional funding through national research programs.
2. Project-based Research Grants: Funding from European Commission (Horizon Europe, FEDER), ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche), ADEME, and regional programs for specific research projects.
3. Technology Transfer and Licensing: Revenue from startups created from lab research (CSP-BOOST, SESA, CSP-Now) and potential future patent licensing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PROMES CNRS is a public research laboratory (Unité Propre du CNRS, UPR 8521) that conducts fundamental and applied research on solar energy, materials, and high-temperature processes. It operates world-class concentrated solar power research infrastructure (Grand Four Solaire d'Odeillo 1 MW, Thémis 5 MW solar tower) and develops next-generation CSP technologies, solar thermochemical fuel production, particle-based thermal energy storage, and plasma-based materials processing. Outputs are disseminated through scientific publications, collaborative research agreements, patent licensing, and spin-off startups.

Product overview

PROMES CNRS (UPR 8521) is a research laboratory of the CNRS focused on solar energy, materials, and concentrated solar power. As a research institution rather than a product company, PROMES does not offer commercial products or services. Instead, it operates major research infrastructures including the Grand Four Solaire d'Odeillo (1 MW solar furnace), the Centrale Solaire Thémis (5 MW solar tower), and participates in European and French solar research infrastructure networks (EU-Solaris and FR-Solaris). The laboratory provides access to these facilities for external researchers and collaborates on international solar energy research projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grand Four Solaire d'Odeillo A 1 MW solar furnace located in Odeillo, Font-Romeu, France (Le Grand Four Solaire d'Odeillo). It is one of the largest solar research facilities in the world, using 10,000 mirrors (heliostats) to concentrate sunlight onto a focal point for high-temperature materials research, solar energy experiments, and concentrated solar power research. Access is provided to external researchers and industrial partners.
• Centrale Solaire Thémis A 5 MW solar tower power plant located in Targassonne, France, operated by PROMES in partnership with the Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales. Used for high-temperature solar thermal research and testing of next-generation receiver technologies, including the 3 MW fluidized particle-in-tube receiver demonstration under the Next-CSP European project.
• FR-Solaris (French Solar Research Infrastructure) French national solar research infrastructure coordinated by PROMES, providing access to solar research facilities across France for the scientific community through shared infrastructure agreements.
• EU-Solaris (European Solar Research Infrastructure) European solar research infrastructure bringing together solar research facilities across Europe, with PROMES as a key participant. PROMES participates in the SOLARIZE project submitted through EU-Solaris to enable transnational and virtual access to solar research installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Created oxygen from lunar rock to facilitate human settlement
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNRS Ingénierie (INSIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary affiliation with CNRS Institut des Sciences de l'Ingénierie et des Systèmes (INSIS). CNRS provides core institutional funding and administrative support as the parent research organization.
• Université de Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal convention agreement (2021-2026) with the University of Perpignan. UPVD provides co-supervision of doctoral students and access to university facilities and resources.
• SolarPACES (IEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPROMES Director Gilles Flamant elected President of SolarPACES Executive Committee. SolarPACES is an International Energy Agency technology collaboration program dedicated to concentrated solar power, with 18 member countries.
• European Commission (FEDER, Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding source for European research projects including Next-CSP, P2P (Powder2Power), SOLARIZE, and SHIP4D. PROMES coordinates several multi-partner European research initiatives.
• ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national research funding agency supporting numerous PROMES projects including HEASTEC, SiCSun, MULTITHERMO, and others through various ANR funding programs.
• Next-CSP ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean project started 2016 with 10 European partners. Demonstrated 3MW fluidized particle-in-tube receiver technology at Thémis solar tower.
• CSP-BOOSTminorOthersStartup created January 2022, incubated at IN-CUBE (UPVD), hosted at PROMES Odeillo. Helps industries reduce CO2 emissions through concentrated solar power solutions.
• SESA (Solar Energy Systems Analytics)minorOthersStartup created November 2021, incubated at SATT AxLR. Develops software for solar resource forecasting and energy management systems for solar installations.
• CSP-NowminorOthersStartup project accepted for incubation at IN-CUBE (UPVD), developed by Anastasiya Badziaka, Gilles Flamant, and Benjamin Grange.
• FREE (Fédération de Recherche Energie-Environnement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch federation (FR 2048 CNRS/UPVD) grouping 7 laboratories at UPVD. PROMES researcher Laurent Thomas serves as Director.
• M-ERA.NET ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network supporting materials research. PROMES participates in projects including ADMATES for additive manufacturing of thermal energy storage materials.
• FR-SolariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national solar research infrastructure network that PROMES is part of, providing access to solar research facilities across France.
• EU-SolariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean solar research infrastructure network. PROMES participates in SOLARIZE project submitted through EU-Solaris.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PROMES_CNRS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3wOFdvlDXWWBU2RKI_XR3Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/promes-cnrs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PROMES CNRS