We report on instrumentation developments concerning a subset of ESRF
beamlines : BL6 & 26 (linear, circular dichroism); BL8 (energy dispers
ive XAFS); BL18 (multipurpose energy scanned XAFS studies). We review
in more detail the instrumentation of BL6 & 26 which are now under com
missioning. A 1/4 wave plate was successfully used at 2.8 keV in the d
irect undulator beam. High-quality CMXD spectra have already been reco
rded in the fluorescence detection mode.