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Ballastwasser Behandlung: Nachhaltige Ballastwasseraufbereitung (BAWAPLA)

Maritimer Transport ist von enormer Bedeutung für Europa und den Rest der Welt. Über 90% des Außenhandels der Europäischen Union wird per Seetransport abgewickelt. Mehr als eine Milliarde Tonnen an Fracht werden pro Jahr in den Häfen der Mitgliedstaaten auf- und abgeladen. Der Schiffstransport ist gemessen am Volumen die wichtigste Beförderungsart. Mit dem Seetransportgeschäft begann auch der Transport von Organismen im Ballastwasser von Schiffen. Der internationale Transport von drei bis zu zwölf Milliarden Tonnen Ballastwasser jährlich führt zur Ansammlung von ca. 100 Millionen Tonnen von Ablagerungen in den Schiffen. Die Beseitigung des entstandenen Schlamms verursacht enorme Kosten (ca. 30.000 € für ein kleines Frachtschiff). Neben den wirtschaftlichen Aspekten wird das Ballastwasser als hauptsächlicher Verursacher für die Umsiedlung von Aquaspezies über biologisch-geografische Grenzen hinaus verstanden. Schätzungsweise werden täglich 10.000 Pflanzen- sowie Tierarten per Schiff in die ganze Welt transportiert. Aufgrund des wachsenden Welthandels wächst auch die Bedrohung der Ökosysteme durch invasive Lebewesen. Die immer kürzeren Fahrtzeiten erhöhen die Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit der Bioinvasoren. Die automatische und zuverlässige Reinigung des Ballastwassers im Tank mithilfe einer neuen Hybrid-Technologie (UV, Filter, Elektrolyse), die einen seewasserbetriebenen Generator nutzt, ist das gemeinsame Ziel der Projektpartner. Durch die Produktion von aktiven Substanzen mit der Elektrolyse aus dem Meerwasser wird vermieden, gefährliche und ätzende Chemikalien an Bord mitzuführen.

Climate Change and Impact Research: the Mediterranean Environment (CIRCE)

CIRCE aims at developing for the first time an assessment of the climate change impacts in the Mediterranean area. The objectives of the project are: - To predict and to quantify physical impacts of climate change in the Mediterranean area, - To evaluate the consequences of climate change for the society and the economy of the populations located in the Mediterranean area, - To develop an integrated approach to understand combined effects of climate change, - To identify adaptation and mitigation strategies in collaboration with regional stakeholders CIRCE wants to understand and to explain how climate will change in the Mediterranean area. The project will investigate how global and Mediterranean climates interact, how the radiative properties of the atmosphere and the radiative fluxes vary, the interaction between cloudiness and aerosol, the modifications in the water cycle. Recent observed modifications in the climate variables and detected trends will be compared. The economic and social consequences of climate change shall be evaluated by analyzing direct impacts on migration, tourism and energy markets together with indirect impacts on the economic system. CIRCE will moreover investigate the consequences on agriculture, forests and ecosystems, human health and air quality. The variability of extreme events in the future scenario and their impacts will be assessed. A rigorous common framework, including a set of quantitative indicators developed specifically for the Mediterranean environment will be developed and used in collaboration with regional stakeholders. The results will be incorporated in a decision support system tool and disseminated to the relevant users. Possible adaptation and mitigation strategies will be identified. The integrated results discussed by the project CIRCE will be presented in the first Regional Assessment of Climate Change in the Mediterranean area. Prime Contractor: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; Roma; Italy.

Solar Steam Reforming of Methane Rich Gas for Synthesis Gas Production (SOLREF)

Project main goals: The main purpose of this project is to develop an innovative 400 kWth solar reformer for several applications such as Hydrogen production or electricity generation. Depending of the feed source for the reforming process CO2 emissions can be reduced significantly (up to 40 percent using NG), because the needed process heat for this highly endothermic reaction is provided by concentrated solar energy. A pre-design of a 1 MW prototype plant in Southern Italy and a conceptual layout of a commercial 50 MWth reforming plant complete this project. Key issues: The profitability decides if a new technology has a chance to come into the market. Therefore several modifications and improvements to the state-of-the-art solar reformer technology will be introduced before large scale and commercial system can be developed. These changes are primarily to the catalytic system, the reactor optimisation and operation procedures and the associated optics for concentrating the solar radiation. For the dissemination of solar reforming technology the regions targeted are in Southern Europe and Northern Africa. The potential markets and the impact of infrastructure and administrative restrictions will be assessed. The environmental, socio-economic and institutional impacts of solar reforming technology exploitation will be assessed with respect to sustainable development. The market potential of solar reforming technology in a liberalised European energy market will be evaluated. Detailed cost estimates for a 50 MWth commercial plant will be determined.

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.

FP6-SUSTDEV, Integrated Flood Risk Analysis and Management Methodologies (FLOODsite)

The management of flood risk is a critical component of public safety and quality of life. The FLOODsite Integrated Project will produce improved understanding of specific flood processes and mechanisms and methodologies for flood risk analysis and management ranging from the high level management of risk at a river-basin, estuary and coastal process cell scale down to the detailed assessment in specific areas. It includes specific actions on the hazard of coastal extremes, coastal morphodynamics and flash flood forecasting, as well as understanding of social vulnerability and flood impacts, which are critical to improving the mitigation of flood risk from all causes. The project seeks to identify technologies and strategies for sustainable flood mitigation and defence, recognising the complex interaction between natural bio-physical systems and socio-economic systems, to support spatial and policy planning in the context of global change and societal advance. Several pilot studies are included in FLOODsite. These will identify lessons from recent floods (e.g. Elbe, 2002), and test the proposed operational use of methods on integrated risk management and sustainable flood defence (the Thames and Scheldt Estuaries and the Ebro coastal delta) or new technology for flash flood forecasting (in France and Italy). FLOODsite will also develop common language, guidance and tools for dissemination of the project results and professional training packages. FLOODsite will build upon the previous and current European and national research and practice in river and coastal flood processes and flood risk mitigation methods to promote consistency of approach. Several of the FLOODsite project partners are identified as contributors to proposals for the virtual centre on floods and droughts identified in Para 1.1.6.3.II of the work programme; this virtual centre will complement the activities of the FLOODsite project.

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.

Funding Infrastructure: Guidelines for Europe (FUNDING)

The main objective of the FUNDING proposal is to develop a scientifically sound approach to determine optimal charging and investment in the HU member states and the Accession countries. This implies the following aims: - The use of state-of-the-art research to assess revenues from pricing and to identify the financing gap per mode, per region and per period of time for the EU15 and the Accession countries. - To contribute to the development of a methodology for mark-ups to marginal cost pricing that is applicable to all modes as well as links and nodes. The analysis includes a more detailed analysis of network aspects, the division of power between several governments and operators, quality aspects as well as uncertainty issues.- To develop and test a methodology for a European multi-infrastructure fund, taking into account the equity and efficiency effects. The possible structures of such a fund, the decision criteria, acceptability, efficiency and spatial equity effects will be studied in the project.

Scenarios for the transport system and energy supply and their potential effects (STEPS)

Objective: To achieve the tasks of Research Domain 1.10, the proposed project STEPS has the following overall objective:to develop, compare and assess possible scenarios for the transport system and energy supply of the future taking into account the state of the art of relevant research within and outside of the 6th RTD Framework and such criteria as the autonomy and security of energy supply, effects on the environment and economic, technical and industrial viability including the impact of potential cost internalisation and the interactions between transport and land use.To achieve this overall objective, STEPS has chosen a two-way approach. As the task description mentions research and assessment, modelling and forecasting activities on the one hand and co-ordination, comparison and dissemination activities on the other, the consortium has come up with a work plan consisting of two main activity 'lines': A Co-ordination activities (clustering meetings, dissemination, publications etc.); B Supporting research activities (scenario development, evaluation and assessment). These two lines of activities are closely related and constantly influencing each other. In all phases of the project,the interlinking of the two 'paths' will ensure a fruitful cross-fertilisation. Moreover, the chosen approach offers an added value to a project plan strictly confined to one of the two activities (research and co-ordination/dissemination).To achieve the project's goals, a well-balanced consortium of renowned research institutes, experienced in the fields of scenario-building and modelling, transport research and energy has been composed. Together with external experts, representatives of governments and other relevant authorities, market parties and transport and energy organisations, this consortium will make the possible consequences on the transport systems and energy supply of the future of the implementation of transport innovations, or the lack thereof, clear'.

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.

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