At just 30 years old, Yannick Fanchette is thinking about the energy challenges of tomorrow. This young researcher from the Laboratory of Energetics, Electronics and Processes (LE²P) at the University of Reunion is currently preparing his doctorate. Very involved in energy research on Reunion Island, Yannick Fanchette was part of a delegation of five teacher-researchers from the sister island. The latter were present on Mauritian soil as part of an agreement between the University of Reunion and the University of Mascarene Islands to hold a conference at the Mauritian institution.
Physics is a subject he has always been passionate about. At least that’s what the young Mauritian tells us: “It’s a very exciting field! Our young compatriot says:
“I found it extraordinary that I could explain the world around me in a logical way. That is why, paradoxically, I loved, and still do, mythology, because it gives an almost poetic explanation of certain aspects of life; an explanation that was once considered an absolute truth and is, moreover, still the case for the religions that have survived to this day. Not to mention the fact that he had the support of “very good teachers”.
Afterwards, it was his desire to improve the daily lives of his peers that motivated him. This applies to the environment as well as to transport and to the comfort of everyday life. What Yannick Fanchette wants is to make his contribution so as not to leave a ravaged world to future generations. For him, energy research is also about trying to find solutions on his own scale, “no matter how small.
Research on intelligent energy management!
His PhD, which he is currently working on, is entitled “Real-time testing of intelligent energy management systems at the scale of interconnected microgrids: Impact of solar and wind resource forecast uncertainty”. His academic record is impressive. After completing a double degree in Physics and Engineering Sciences at the University of Reunion, he went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Mechanics and Engineering, specialising in Mechanics and Energy and Energy and Development at the University of Bordeaux. The young researcher then joined the “Energy Data Analytics” project at TEEO, a company based in Le Port on Reunion Island, as an engineer trainee.
He will then be part of a project to study an energy smart city and the predictive modeling of a building’s energy consumption based on Machine Learning algorithms. When it comes to energy research, we often tend to think of wind or solar energy to power a city or a neighbourhood. However, the young researcher explains that “these are not constant. It is therefore necessary to detect faults in the management systems of these networks. Thanks to this type of testing and analysis, we are able to implement solutions to optimize energy distribution on these networks. If we can foresee the flaws in the system, this could facilitate their implementation in smart grids and will necessarily limit waste and losses.
The energy impact of islands.
Moreover, our young compatriot adds that because of their insularity, the islands depend greatly on imports. This has a direct impact on the cost of materials, especially when it comes to solar energy, photovoltaic panels, etc. In order to recoup these costs, these systems should ideally be made more reliable at the community level, such as Smart Cities. “Solar is a perfect solution for a community because the new energy management systems will allow for smarter and more efficient distribution over time,” he explains.
Far from limiting himself to the sister island, Yannick Fanchette hopes that his work will have an international scope. He wishes to export his research to other countries and exchange with other researchers on different continents.
To quote him: “Their vision and experience are indispensable to the progress of my research. What’s more, converting this work into one or even more exploitable and profitable tools for countries with under-exploited solar resources would be great.
Once his thesis is completed, our compatriot would like to teach at the University, while keeping time for energy research. We therefore wish him success in making a lasting impact on the world of energy distribution.
