API src

Found 17 results.

Energiepolitik und Wissenschaft - die Enquete-Kommission 'Zukünftige Kernenergie-Politik' (Arbeitstitel)

Ziel des Projektes ist es, die Zusammenarbeit von Wissenschaft und Politik innerhalb der Enquete-Kommission 'Zukünftige Kernenergie-Politik' zu untersuchen, die ihren ersten Bericht 1980 vorlegte. In diesen wissenschaftlichen Beratungsprozess waren neben industrienahen Wissenschaftlern auch Alternative integriert - wie beispielsweise ein Sachverständiger des Öko-Instituts, das von Mitgliedern der Umweltbewegung gegründet wurde. Damit gewannen alternative Wissenschaftler zunehmend Gewicht in der Diskussion um zukunftsfähige Energiepolitik, die bis dahin vor allem von den - der Industrie nahe stehenden - Forschungseinrichtungen wie Jülich und Karlsruhe bestimmt wurde. Vor dem Hintergrund der innenpolitisch prägenden Konfliktphase um die Atomenergie soll die Funktionsfähigkeit der wissenschaftlichen Politikberatung untersucht werden. Dies beinhaltet neben der Untersuchung von Kommunikationsprozessen auch die Frage nach den Argumentationsstrategien.

Embedded Optimization for Resource Constrained Platforms (EMBOCON)

There is enormous economic potential for the application of embedded optimization technologies in embedded systems design. Recent advances in the performance of embedded hardware platforms, in combination with fundamental improvements in optimization theory and algorithms, have opened the door to widespread applications over the next decade. Embedded optimization will enable huge energy and resource savings, increased safety, and improved fault detection across a wide a range of industrial applications in the mechatronic, automotive, process control and aerospace sectors. In order to realize the full potential of optimization in embedded systems, their design must also be supported by a focussed set of tools enabling the rapid transfer of novel high-performance algorithms to practical applications. The EMBOCON consortium will enable widespread application of real-time optimization in embedded systems through: - Tailoring of customized numerical algorithms to increase their robustness and efficiency on embedded systems - Enabling real-time optimization on cheap industry-standard hardware platforms - Defining a common user interface for optimization technologies to facilitate technology transfer to industry - Performing challenging case studies in cooperation with industrial partners to demonstrate technological maturity. The EMBOCON consortium will strengthen a network of world-leading academic and industrial partners with complementary expertise in control, optimization and embedded systems in a range of industrial applications. Particular emphasis is placed on close collaboration between mathematical algorithm developers, control theorists, hardware specialists and industrial application engineers. The network will consolidate and extend Europe's position as the world research leader in these areas and foster strong collaborative links between European academia and industry. Prime Contractor: University London, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Level 2 Faculty; London; United Kingdom.

Predictive methods for combined cycle fatigue in Gas Turbine Blades (PREMECCY)

The modern gas turbine is a complex machine, the design and development of which takes many months and costs Millions. The European gas turbine manufacturing industry is under pressure to minimise the resources required to bring a new design to market, due to global competitive pressure and increasing customer expectations. Accurate design and prediction tools are keys to success in this process. The PREMECCY project identifies the field of rotor blade Combined Cycle Fatigue (CCF) as an area where there are shortcomings in the existing industry standard design and prediction tools and thus where significant benefits can be achieved. Rotor blade CCF accounts for up to 40Prozent of the total number of issues that arise during an engine development programme and a similar proportion of in-service problems. These issues cost the industry Millions in both maintenance and redesign costs. The primary objective of the PREMECCY project is to develop new and improved CCF prediction methods for use in the design process. These will halve the number of development and in-service CCF problems thereby reducing the time and cost required to develop a new engine and reducing the operating costs once in service. They will also enable the design of lighter, more efficient blades, reducing engine sfc. In order to develop the new prediction methods the project will first generate high quality material test data. Advanced specimens and testing mechanically, geometrically and environmentally representative of operating conditions will be used to verify the enhanced methodology. All industrial partners are in a position to exploit the resulting methodologies within their existing design processes. The 15 strong consortium includes 9 major European gas turbine manufacturers, 1 specialist SME and 5 world-class research facilities. The complimentary expertise and experience of the consortium represents an optimised resource with which to achieve the project's challenging objectives. Prime Contractor: Rolls-Royce Plc; London; United Kongdom.

Environmental management reform for sustainable farming, fisheries and aquaculture

The aim of this project is to co-ordinate research on environmental management reform to improve sustainability in the farming, fisheries and aquaculture industries. By decreasing pollution and the nuisance value of wastes, and by promoting more efficient waste handling, production, waste recycling, and lower input systems, in line with best management practices, the objectives of the ETAP will be achieved. It is aimed at T4.6.2 of thematic priority 5. The specific objectives of this CA are to: - Assemble the latest relevant information on environmental management in the farming, fisheries and aquaculture industries, and to identify key players in the European Research Area, and in INCO countries, to prepare for future projects - Document the current state of the art, and to acquaint members, and the research community in Europe and in INCO countries, with the latest developments in environmental management research - Map current research activities within the ERA - Identify barriers that prevent effective environmental management and sustainability - Survey national and European legislation and policies - Develop a set of guidelines and recommendations of best practice to help to decrease the environmental impact of the farming, fisheries and aquaculture industries. To assist implementation of these guidelines through two technology transfer workshops - Provide an online European database, linked to existing web sites and databases of specialist groups - Promote exchange of European researchers - Promote collaboration with the farming, fisheries and aquaculture industries - Make recommendations for future research - Disseminate knowledge via the specialised web site, technology transfer workshops and the staff exchange programme.

FP6-INCO, Cost efficient and reliable rural electrification schemes for South Mediterranean countriesbased on multi user Solar Hybrid grids (CRESMED)

Objective: Based on the successful implementation of multi-user solar hybrid grids (MSG) in Europe, this project deals with the design of rural village electrification technology and schemes for rural communities, schools, or dispensaries in Mediterranean partner cou ntries. For this purpose, this project further develops and adapts an integrated approach, covering all aspects required (social, economical, financial and technical) for long term sustainable energy service achieved with hybrid systems. This approach is e laborated in a common effort between partners in the EU and Mediterranean partner countries). There is an initial preparation phase addressing research on technological, socio-economic and institutional issues in each target country covered by this project (Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon), which are all crucial for successful implementation. The systems to be developed are adapted to the context in Mediterranean partner countries, such as high robustness, and additional communications for remote monitori ng. They are based on a locally appropriate energy mix based on PV plus wind or micro-hydraulic, and fuel, feeding local micro grids. Intelligent energy distribution devices assure reliable energy service for each user so that a high level of energy effici ency and demand side management is achieved during the operation of the systems. The project previews dissemination of results using a rural electrification manual, local dissemination actions in each target country, one training seminar and one internatio nal conference targeting at specialists from all Mediterranean partner countries.

Analyse des Marktes fuer oekologisch orientierte Kapitalanlageformen (sog. 'Green Investment')

Das Vorhaben soll analysieren, welche umweltpolitische Bedeutung dem zur Zeit rasch wachsenden und noch sehr intransparenten Markt fuer oekologisch orientierte Kapitalanlageformen (sog. 'Green Investment') beizumessen ist und welche Handlungsoptionen sich hier fuer das BMU bieten. Dazu ist eine systematisierende Bestandsaufnahme der aktuellen Marktsituation sowie der derzeit im In- und Ausland praktizierten bzw. diskutierten Politikmassnahmen auf diesem Gebiet anzufertigen. Auf dieser Grundlage sollen dann verschiedene Vorschlaege und Handlungsoptionen fuer die deutsche Umweltpolitik genauer auf ihre Sinnhaftigkeit und Durchsetzbarkeit geprueft werden. Ein Schwerpunkt soll dabei die derzeit auf EU-DG XI - Expertenebene diskutierte Idee der Einfuehrung eines 'Europaeischen Umweltzeichens fuer Umweltfonds' sein, durch die verbesserte Markttransparenz und - hiermit verbunden - eine deutliche Steigerung der Nachfrage nach umweltfreundlichem Investment erwartet werden. Die seit einiger Zeit weltweit rasch zunehmende Zahl oekologisch und/oder ethisch-orientierter Investmentfonds und anderer Kapitalanlageformen (z.B. spezialisierte Kreditinstitute, in Deutschland etwa Umelt- und Oekobank) mit z.T. geringer Laufdauer und fragwuerdiger Serioesitaet hat inzwischen dazu gefuehrt, dass das 'Green Investment' zwar zunehmende oeffentliche und auch politische Aufmerksamkeit geniesst, seine tatsaechlcihe umweltpolitische Relevanz aber aus BMU-Sicht noch nicht klar einzuschaetzen ist. Nicht nur potentiellen Anlegern, sondern auch BMU fehlt zur Zeit ausreichende Markttransparenz. Gleichzeitig werden an BMU zunehmend Fragen und Forderungen nach politischem Handeln zugunsten des Green Investment herangetragen (so z.B. indirekt durch die von der EU-KOM vergebene und breit kommunizierte DELPHI/ECOLOGIC-Studie 'The Role of Finacial Institutions in Achieving Sustainable Development'). Vor diesem Hintergrund soll das F+E-Vorhaben in zwei Phasen durchgefuehrt werden: Als Phase 1 ist ein eintaegiger Experten-Workshop mit 8-10 ausgewiesenen Branchenkennern sowie Vertretern von BMU und UBA geplant. Konzeption, Moderation und Auswertung sollen dabei an einen fachlich versierten und international im Sektor 'Umwelt und Finanzdienstleistungen' etablierten Forschungsnehmer (FN) vergeben werden. Ziel des Workshops ist es, sehr kurzfristig anhand einiger, vorab kommunizierter Fragen ein aktuelles Bild des gegenwaertigen Kenntnisstandes und weiteren Forschungsbedarfs zu gewinnen. Dies soll nach dem Workshop sehr rasch in einem kuerzeren Ergebnispapier dargestellt werden, was nicht nur als Grundlage fuer die inhaltliche Ausrichtung der zweiten Phase (P 2) dienen soll, sondern auch schon konkrete Vorarbeiten fuer dessen Vergabe (Leistungsbeschreibung, Vorschlaege fuer Teilnehmer an beschraenkter Ausschreibung) liefern soll.

Socio-Economic Multiplier Technique for Rural Diversification through Biomass Energy Deployment (BIOSEM)

There is a clear need to quantify the knock-on effects of bioenergy schemes in rural depressed areas. Bioenergy schemes represent opportunities for European agriculture to diversify into new markets that will create new and additional employment in rural communities. This will also aid in increasing farming incomes and will act as a lever for other investment and contribute to the development of associated commercial and industrial activities. For instance, transport infrastructure and specialist machinery manufacturers will benefit from increased business. This will in turn create additional spending in the community and further add to the knock-on effects. The objective of this proposal is to develop a quantitative model to analyse the socioeconomic impacts of bioenergy deployment through rural diversification and to measure the distribution of benefits and costs of policy packages, particularly the CAP. The BIOSEM model - Biomass Socio-Economic Multiplier Model, will be a facilitator for the organisation and analysis of already existing data so that the employment and income benefits from bioenergy development and deployment in rural areas can be measured. The model will simulate the interaction between agricultural crops, biomass production, energy production and other sectors of the economy. The main aim of this proposal is the development of the BIOSEM model. This will allow: - the estimation of the direct and indirect knock-on effects on employment, income, local services and government revenue created by various phases of the deployment of bioenergy schemes in the participating European countries; - the identification of depressed rural areas that would benefit from bioenergy deployment; - recommendations for CAP policy reform to assist and promote rural diversification through bioenergy schemes. BIOSEM will assist policy makers to site energy crop production and processing plants and to identify where to target investment so as to get the highest production response or optimal income distribution effects in all the participating European countries. BIOSEM will help policy makers identify recommendations for rural policy and CAP reform and assist rural diversification through bioenergy deployment based on the results of BIOSEM model simulations.

Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors (VECTORS)

Marine life makes a substantial contribution to the economy and society of Europe. VECTORS will elucidate the drivers, pressures and vectors that cause change in marine life, the mechanisms by which they do so, the impacts that they have on ecosystem structures and functioning, and on the economics of associated marine sectors and society. VECTORS will particularly focus on causes and consequences of invasive alien species, outbreak forming species, and changes in fish distribution and productivity. New and existing knowledge and insight will be synthesised and integrated to project changes in marine life, ecosystems and economies under future scenarios for adaptation and mitigation in the light of new technologies, fishing strategies and policy needs. VECTORS will evaluate current forms and mechanisms of marine governance in relation to the vectors of change. Based on its findings, VECTORS will provide solutions and tools for relevant stakeholders and policymakers, to be available for use during the lifetime of the project. The project will address a complex array of interests comprising areas of concern for marine life, biodiversity, sectoral interests, regional seas, and academic disciplines as well as the interests of stakeholders. VECTORS will ensure that the links and interactions between all these areas of interest are explored, explained, modelled and communicated effectively to the relevant stakeholders. The VECTORS consortium is extremely experienced and genuinely multidisciplinary. It includes a mixture of natural scientists with knowledge of socio-economic aspects, and social scientists (environmental economists, policy and governance analysts and environmental law specialists) with interests in natural system functioning. VECTORS is therefore fully equipped to deliver the integrated interdisciplinary research required to achieve its objectives with maximal impact in the arenas of science, policy, management and society.

Balanced European Conservation Approach (BECA) - ICT services for resource saving in social housing

The BECA (Balanced European Conservation Approach - ICT services for resource saving in social housing) project addresses the need to reduce energy consumption in European social housing by a very significant amount to meet overall emission reduction targets. To substantially reduce peak and overall demand for energy and water across EU social housing, BECA will develop a full set of innovative services for resource use awareness and resource management. Balance is achieved by addressing not only energy but water, by including all key energy forms - electricity, gas and heating - and by including strong activities in Eastern Europe as well as in the North, South and West of the EU. Social housing organisations in 7 European countries (Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Serbia) and their partners are cooperating in the project to provide ICT-based energy management and energy awareness services directly to social housing tenants and service operators. Services will be piloted by approx. 5,000 social housing tenants across 7 sites in 7 European countries. Sustained reductions in resource use are to be achieved through usable ICT-based services directly to tenants, as well as by effective monitoring and control of local power generation and, for district heating, the full heat delivery chain. Intensive work will be addressed to optimising services for tenants and maximising impact on resource use behaviour. Service requirements will be investigated with tenants and staff and service prototypes based on initial use cases will be subject to user testing within the first year of the project. Results are used to finalise service design in a second iteration of use case definition and service specification lasting some 8 months, cumulating in implementation of operational services at all the 7 pilot sites. Pilots at sites will operate for at least 14 months; lead sites will be identified to being operation early and provide example solutions to others. The consortium, led by social housing providers and public authorities includes global ICT and service providers and distribution network operators working with local consultants and specialist advisors to carry out all steps in service implementation.

Influence of landscape change on population structure of black-backed Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus) in Java island, Indonesia

Landscape changes may influence population persistence and genetic diversity of black-backed Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus) in Java Island. The changes occurred rapidly, particularly in the coastal area, due to human population pressure. It may affect negatively the quality and compactness of natural ecosystems, particularly wetlands. In turn, it may lead to a reduction of critical resources and impair individual movement. The effect will be severe particularly for wetland-breeding specialist with poor flight capability like in black-backed Swamphen. It is reasonable that some local ornithologist warn about the bird species persistence. Limited information on its behavior and biology make the conservation efforts even more difficult. The species cryptic behavior impedes direct observation for habitat and movement studies, whereas fraught classification makes information on their population size and distribution debatable. Limited reliable information on these aspects may pose an obstacle to conserve their natural population in a rapidly changed environment. Information on population structure and the individual movement between sub populations are central for species conservation in a changing landscape. The project will address some important questions about the effect of the changes on population isolation and its suspected causes, rate of dispersal necessary to maintain genetic diversity, and biased dispersal. A new approach combining molecular genetic and GIS techniques may provide such information and may overcome the lack of direct observations. As guidance for data collection and analysis, general research question is defined as follows: 'How do landscape feature influence individual movement between population of Porphyrio indicus in Java Island ?' Following it, some sub questions may arise: What are the landscape structure and composition in past and recent years? How populations are spatially structured in recent and past years? Is there any evidence of individual exchange between subpopulations? Which landscape features are supposed to facilitate and inhibit individual exchange? Which landscape features do explain population structure better? Several work steps are planned: field work for collecting genetic material, laboratory work for isolation-amplification-analysis of DNA fragments, and desk work for landscape analysis. Raw genetic data of and landscape features will be combined to address the research questions.

1 2