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Resolving the impact of climatic processes on ecosystems of the North Atlantic basin and shelf seas: Integrating and advancing observation, monitoring, and prediction (BASIN)

The scale of influence of global change and the added value of co-ordinating the scientific activities of the EU and North American countries to assess, predict and mitigate the effects on marine ecosystems of the North Atlantic and their services is the justification for the development of the BASIN SSA. An important step towards such a co-ordinated approach is the development of an implementation plan where by jointly funded international projects can be supported. The development of such a plan is the first key goal of BASIN. The second goal of BASIN is to develop an integrated basin-scale North Atlantic research program, for submission to the EU 7th framework program, US NSF and Canadian NSERC for joint funding. Programmatic goals will be achieved in working groups including experts from both the EU and North America as well as delegates from funding organisations. As a prerequisite for the development of the research proposal, this SSA will (1) assess the status of climate related ecosystem research in the North Atlantic basin and associated shelf seas, (2) identify gaps in systematic observations and process understanding of atmospheric and oceanic parameters, (3) identify the potential for consolidation of long-term observations from EU and international databases for modelling and prediction. The BASIN research program will focus on: Resolving the natural variability, potential impacts and feedbacks of global change on the structure, function and dynamics of ecosystems; Improving the understanding of marine ecosystem functioning; Developing ecosystem based management strategies. Hence, BASIN will contribute significantly to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) 10-Year Implementation Plan via the development of comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained observations of the Earth System, improved monitoring of the state of the Earth, increased understanding of Earth processes, and enhanced prediction.

Hydrogen for clean urban transport in Europe (HyFleet:CUTE)

The HyFLEET:CUTE project involves the operation of 47 hydrogen powered buses in regular public transport service in 10 cities on three continents. The Project aims to diversify and reduce energy consumption in the transport system by developing new, fuel efficient hydrogen powered bus technology, and clean, efficient and safe ways of producing and distributing hydrogen fuel. Objectives: - Develop hydrogen powered bus technology in order to reduce the consumption of fuel and energy in the whole transportation system. - Develop efficient and environmentally 'friendly' ways to produce hydrogen. - Research the technology and development needs to establish a hydrogen refueling infrastructure. - Inform the community and key decision-makers about the potential advantages of a hydrogen-based transport system and how they can help to develop it.

Climate Change and Variability: Impact on Central and Eastern Europe (CLAVIER)

Objective: Observational records show that the global climate is changing and ongoing changes are also visible in Central Eastern Europe. About 64Prozent of all catastrophic events in Europe since 1980 can directly be attributed to weather and climate extremes. Climate change projections show even an increasing likelihood of extremes. Certainly negative impacts of climate change will involve significant economic looses in several regions of Europe, while others may bring health or welfare problems somewhere else. Within CLAVIER three representative Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) will be studied in detail: Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Researches from 6 countries and different disciplines will identify linkages between climate change and its impact on weather patterns with consequences on air pollution, extremes events, and on water resources. Furthermore, an evaluation of the economic impact on agriculture, tourism, energy supply and the public sector will be conducted. This is of increasing importance for CEEC, which are currently facing a rapid economic development, but also for the European Union as e.g. Romania's and Bulgaria's high vulnerability from extreme events such as floods will impact not only the respective economic goals for joining the EU but also the EU solidarity fund. CLAVIER will focus on ongoing and future climate changes in Central and Eastern European Countries using measurements and existing regional scenarios to determine possible developments of the climate and to address related uncertainty. In addition, climate projections with very high detail will be carried out for CEEC to fulfil the need for a large amount of detail in time and space, which is inherent in local and regional impact assessment.

Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier (HYSAFE)

Objective: The overall goal of HySafe is to contribute to the safe transition to a more sustainable development in Europe by facilitating the safe introduction of hydrogen as an energy carrier of the future. The objectives of the network include: -To contribute to common understanding and approaches for addressing hydrogen safety issues; -To integrate experience and knowledge on hydrogen safety in Europe; -To integrate and harmonise the fragmented research base; -To provide contributions to EU safety requirements, standards and codes of practice; -To contribute into improved technical culture to handle hydrogen as an energy carrier; -To promote public acceptance of hydrogen technologies. These objectives are to be achieved by: -Developing, harmonising and validating methodologies for safety assessments; -Undertaking safety and risk studies; -Establishment of a hydrogen incident and accident database; -Creation of a set of specialised research facilities; -Identification of a set of specialised complimentary codes and models that can be used for safety studies; -Promoting fundamental research necessary to address hydrogen safety issues; -Extracting net outcomes from safety and risk assessment studies as input to EU-legal requirements, standards and codes of practice; -Organizing training and educational programmes on hydrogen safety, including on-line mode (e-Academy); -Disseminating the results through HySafe website, Annual Report on Hydrogen Safety, and Biannual International Symposium on Hydrogen Safety. HySafe network addresses the medium and long term objectives of the Priority 6.1 'Sustainable energy systems'. In particular, the HySafe NoE is directly relevant to the objectives of research area 6.1.3.2.2 concerning development of a robust and reliable framework for assessment of the safety of hydrogen technologies.

Renewable fuels for advanced powertrains (RENEW)

Objective: This project aims to develop, assess and train on various production chains for motor vehicle fuels ligno-cellulosic biomass sources will be used as feedstock to produce synthesis gas from which various vehicle fuels can be derived: CH4, methanol/DME, ethanol (thermo-chemical and enzymatic pathway) and a novel biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuel. The project will develop and evaluate the respective processing technologies with a view to producing cost effective premium fuels for current and future combustion engines from a wide bandwidth of feedstock. Within 4 vertical subprojects, alternative thermo-chemical gasification, enzymatic fuel production and fuel synthesis processes will be considered, while 2 horizontal subprojects are directed towards technology assessment and training. Two pilot-produced fuels (DME and BTL) will be submitted to extensive motor-tests by 4 leading European car manufacturers within this project. Other fuels will be made available for tests in various other European R&D projects. It is envisaged that this project will lead to the introduction of favourably priced biomass-derived fuels for motor vehicles, from 2010 onwards. Apart from achieving scientific and technological results, RENEW has the vision to develop commonly agreed strategic recommendations, based on an understanding among relevant players in industry, agriculture and research concerning the technological and market potential of different bio-fuels and their production technologies. RENEW is novel and hugely important to Europe. It offers major Kyoto Protocol benefits, enhances the sustainability and security of vehicle fuel supply, and has positive Regional socio-economic impacts. RENEW involves 31 partners, including 7 SME, from 9 EU MS and AS countries. The consortium has the necessary 'critical mass' to achieve its goals and develop the technology to commercial stage beyond the end of the project.

Sustainable energy management systems (SEMS)

Objective: The aim of this project is to turn 4 core communities (Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Poland) with clearly defined system borders and 14 - 20.000 inhabitants each into CONCERTO communities. A mix of different EE and RES demonstrations (including refurbishment of old buildings, eco-buildings and polygeneration, all underpinned with complete business plans) will allow to avoid about 300 GWh/yr end energy from fossil sources, thus avoiding 94.000 tons CO2/yr, and saving 22.9 mio Euro/yr of disbursements for extra-communal electricity and heat deliveries. The application of the Decentralised Energy Management System (DEMS) will allow for local and inter-communal operation, monitoring and control of energy consumption, storage and generation units and grids, including DSM and LCP, thereby exploring a EE potential of at least 5Prozent. The target in RES coverage for 2010 is of resp. 39 to 62Prozent of the then remaining electricity and heat demand. EnerMAS, a low-threshold version of the European environmental management system.

Integrated small scale solar heating and cooling systems for a sustainable air-conditioning of buildings (SOLERA)

Objective: The project aims to develop highly integrated solar heating and cooling systems for small and medium capacity applications which are easily installed and economically and socially sustainable. The envisioned applications are residential houses, small office buildings and hotels. The goal is to use the excess solar heat in summer to power a thermally driven cooling process in order to provide cooling for air-conditioning. In the heating season the solar system is used to provide direct heating. The proposed project therefore aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility, reliability and cost effectiveness of these systems, specially conceived as integrated systems to be offered on the market as complete packages which will make better use of the available solar radiation as present systems.

POLYCITY - europäische Energieforschung für Kommunen

Die Projektgebiete liegen in Deutschland, Italien und Spanien. Deutschland: Scharnhauser Park: In Ostfildern am südlichen Rand von Stuttgart entsteht auf einem ehemaligen amerikanischen Militärgelände der Stadtteil Scharnhauser Park für rund 10.000 Bewohner und mit etwa 2.500 Arbeitsplätzen. Zu rund 80 Prozent soll der Energiebedarf aus erneuerbarer Energie gedeckt werden. Kern des Energiekonzeptes für den Stadtteil ist ein Biomasse-Blockheizkraftwerk mit 1 MW elektrischer und 6 MW thermischer Leistung. Die Anlage wird optimiert, eine Ist-Analyse ist bereits erstellt worden. Mit der im Sommer ungenutzten Wärmeenergie soll künftig Kälte für die Klimatisierung von Gewerbebauten erzeugt werden. Neben der ganzjährigen Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien für die Kraft-Wärme-Kältekopplung ist auch Energiespeicherung (zentral und dezentral) und ein kommunales Energiemanagementsystem auf der Basis modernster Informationstechnologien vorgesehen. Das zafh.net liefert Know-how der simulationsgestützten Regelung von Anlagen und setzt betriebsbegleitende Simulationen ein. In Echtzeit soll aus den klimatischen Randbedingungen der optimale Betriebszustand berechnet und mit den real gemessenen Werten verglichen werden. Als Basis ist ein Geoinformationssystem entwickelt worden, mit dem die Energiedaten der Gebäude erfasst und ausgewertet werden können. Die Gebäude unterliegen einem hohen Dämmstandard (25 Prozent unter den in der Wärmeschutzverordnung 1995 geforderten Werten). Bei den im Projekt neu dazukommenden Wohn- und Gewerbebauten wird der Transmissionswärmeverlust um weitere 20-30 Prozent gesenkt. Die ersten Wohnbauten wurden im Herbst 2005 vom Siedlungswerk Stuttgart erstellt. Mit Argon gefüllte Fenster mit erhöhter Rahmendämmungund Kunststoff-Abstandhaltern erreichen einen Gesamt-Wärmedurchgangskoeffizienten von 1,1 W m-2 K-1. In diesem ersten Bauabschnitt sind reine Abluftanlagen ohne Wärmerückgewinnung installiert worden, in späteren Bauabschnitten sollen Anlagen mit Wärmerückgewinnung einer Vergleichsanalyseunterzogen werden. Die Gebäudedichtigkeit wird mit Blower-Door-Tests experimentell untersucht. Der Energiestandard wird bei allen Bauten dokumentiert. Messgeräte für die Fernauslese und Auswertung (Smartbox) sind bereits installiert. ImGewerbegebiet wird im März 2006 ein erstes Demoprojekt zur innovativen Gebäudetechnologie (Heizung, Lüftung, Klima) mit etwa 4.000 m2 Nutzfläche erstellt. In der Ausführungsplanung enthalten sind: thermische Kühlung, Erdreichwärmetauscher, Betonkernaktivierung (zur Kühlung) ein Unterflurkonvektions-Heiz- und Kühlsystem, ein Tageslicht-Lenksystem. Nicht nur das Biomassekraftwerk liefert Strom, sondern auch gebäudeintegrierte PV-Anlagen. Ziel ist eine Leistung von insgesamt 70 kWp. Zudem wird die kinetische Energie des Wassers genutzt: Das aus den Hochbehältern ins Netz abfließende Trinkwasser treibt eine 80-kW-Entspannungsturbine an.

Demonstration of a sustainable CHP concept using residues from olive oil production (OLIVEPOWER)

Objective: The project focuses on the demonstration of an innovative and sustainable CHP concept using residues from olive oil production (olive wastes) as fuel. A first plant based on the new concept will be realised in Greece. The main objective of the project is to demonstrate a closed cycle concept able to reduce landfill problems and emissions and to promote the use of renewable electricity production in Southern Europe. The project will be based on an approach integrating the whole chain (fuel logistics and preparation, energy production, by-product utilisation). An optimised fuel logistic concept will guarantee for a secured fuel supply over the whole year. The fuel will not only be dewatered and dried but also a marketable by-product will be produced. By this means a better fuel quality can be achieved and solid wastes as well as waste- water can be omitted. The development and design of the combustion unit focuses on a technology tailored to the special characteristics of the olive waste.

Network of DER laboratories and pre-standardisation (DER-LAB)

Objective: The main objective of the proposed Network of Excellence (NoE) DER-Lab is to support the sustainable integration of renewable energy sources (RES) and distributed energy resources (DER) in the electricity supply by developing common requirements, quality criteria, as well as proposing test and certification procedures concerning connection, safety, operation and communication of DER-components and systems. DER-Lab intends to strengthen the EC domestic market and to protect European interests on the international standardisation level. A major objective is to establish a durable European DER-Lab Network that will be a world player in this field. The NoE will bring together a group of organisations for the development of certification procedures for DER- components for electricity grids. The NoE will act as a platform to exchange the current state of knowledge between the different European institutes and other groups. The scattered, but high quality research and test facilities will be combined with great benefit for the European research infrastructure DER-Lab will contribute by developing new concepts for control and supervision of electricity supply and distribution and will bundle at European level specific aspects concerning the integration of RES technologies. The absence of European and international standards for the quality and certification of components and systems for DER is a hindrance to the growth of the European market and for European penetration of the world market. It is within the aims of the proposed NoE to reduce these barriers and to work towards common certification procedures for DER components that will be accepted throughout Europe and the world. Obviously this work cannot be done on a national basis. The results of the project and afterwards the output of the network will be a significant contribution to the European standardisation activities and will contribute to the harmonisation of the different national standards.

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