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6. RP Aquaterra - Understanding river-sediment-soil-groundwater interactions for support of management of waterbodies (river basin & catchment areas) (AQUATERRA)

Objective: Changes in climatic conditions, land use practices and soil and sediment pollution have large-scale adverse impacts on water quantity and quality. The current knowledge base in river basin management is not adequate to deal with these impacts. Austere is both integrating and developing knowledge to resolve this and disseminating it to stakeholders. In the water cycle, soil is a key element affecting groundwater recharge and the chemical composition of both subsurface and surface waters (the latter is additionally affected by sediments). The proper functioning of the river-sediment-soil-groundwater system is linked to key biogeochemical processes determining the filter, buffer and transformation capacity of soils and sediments. Austere aims at a better understanding of the system as a whole by identifying relevant processes, quantifying the associated parameters and developing numerical models of the groundwater-soil-sediment-river system to identify adverse trends in soil functioning, water quantity and quality. The modelling addresses all relevant scales starting from micro-scale water/solid interactions, the transport of dissolved species, pollutants as well as suspended matter in soil and groundwater systems at the catchments scale, and finally the regional scale, with case studies located in major river basins in Europe. With this integrated modelling system, Austere provides the basis for improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring programs and the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality during this century. Austere is committed to the dissemination and exploitation of project results through structured workshops, dedicated short courses, and the active participation of consortium partners in national and international conferences. A peer review panel supervises the quality and direction of the project.

Caravel: EU-Programm CIVITAS ('Travelling towards a new mobility')

In CARAVEL ('Travelling towards a new mobility') arbeiten die vier Städte Burgos (Spanien), Genua (Italien), Krakau (Polen) und Stuttgart (Deutschland) im Rahmen des EU-Programms CIVITAS II zusammen. Ziel ist es, unterschiedlichste Ansätze zur Erzielung eines 'nachhaltigen' Verkehrssystems zu erproben. Die Palette der Maßnahmen reicht dabei von Erdgasbussen über Rufbussysteme bis zu überlegungen, eine 'City-Maut' einzuführen. Das Projekt ist im Februar 2005 gestartet und wird vier Jahre dauern. Der Lehrstuhl für Verkehrsplanung und Verkehrsleittechnik ist sowohl auf Gesamt-Projektebene als auch für die Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart für die 'dissemination' der Projektergebnisse verantwortlich. Hierzu gehört die Erstellung einer Projektbroschüre ebenso wie die Herausgabe unterschiedlicher newsletter und die Betreuung der website. Ferner wird der Lehrstuhl im Rahmen von CARAVEL eine Summer University anbieten, die in den Jahren 2007 und 2008 in Budapest, Burgos, Genua und Stuttgart stattfinden wird.

Sustainable Construction of Underground Transport Infrastructures (SCOUT )

Objective: Cut and cover tunnels are a vital tool for the construction of transport infrastructures which are needed for the development of the Trans European Transport Network. This method is widely used for the construction of road/railways tunnels, but it must now satisfy a new set of requirements: urgent need for safer and more cost effective techniques and reduction of environmental impact of the construction (use of natural resources, noise, disruption of traffic, etc). The SCOUT project introduces a breakthrough for the construction of cut-and-cover tunnels, which is characterised by a holistic approach: - Implementation of the Observational Method for a full control of construction and delays, -Optimisation of the design, based on the central concept of double-skin structure, -A radically new construction concept of equipment, with a modular architecture to be used in a large variety of tunnel configurations and soil profiles, -Development and testing of new applications of composites materials to optimise the efficiency of the structure, -Establishing a roadmap towards the recycling of excavated materials. The project is driven by industrial partners, and will include the construction of a pilot wall to validate the construction concept and the execution of full scale tests on composite structure members . Project results will decrease construction costs by more than 30Prozent and production lead times by 30Prozent, and will therefore open new perspectives for the construction of cut-and-cover tunnels to create or upgrade new transport infrastructures. They will include: -Recommendations guides for the optimisation of cut-and-cover projects, -Guide for the implementation of the Observational Method; -A breakthrough concept of drilling equipment for the construction of cut-and-cover tunnels, -New concepts for composite cut-and-cover structure members. Prime Contractor: Soletanche Bachy France; Nanterre; France.

Large-Area CIS Based Thin-Film Solar Modules for Highly Productive Manufacturing (LARCIS)

Objective: In order for the commercial production of large CIGS modules on the multi-MW scale to be successful, the processes must still be streamlined and optimised taking considering both economical and ecological aspects. This project aims to support the developme nt of this material- and energy-saving thin-film technology so it can gain a foothold in the free PV market. Promising laboratory results will be transferred to large-scale production, where the availability of appropriate production equipment and very hig h material and process yields are of decisive importance. 4 universities, 2 research institutes, and 4 companies will work closely together in order to merge the physical understanding of the processes and the engineering know-how, which are necessary for up-scaling the CIGS technology to a marketable multi-megawatt production volume. We will focus on: (1) very high-quality modules manufactured by coevaporation of CIGS and applying cost-effective methods, ETA up to 14 Prozent on 0.7 m2; (2) the development of Cd-free buffer layers for Cd-free CIGS modules on an area of up to 0.7 m2, ETA up to 12 Prozent; (3) and the development of a mid-term alternative: electrodeposition of low-cost CIS modules with ETA above 10 Prozent (estimated cost about 0.8 E/Wp). We will transfer the Mo back contact sputtering know-how to a specialised European large-area glass coater to provide substrates for both the coevaporation and the electrodeposition approaches. All process developments such as modifications of the back contact, wet- or vacuum-deposited buffer layers, the multi-stage coevaporation of CIGS, or improved Ga incorporation in electrodeposited absorbers will first be tested and evaluated on the laboratory scale. Successful approaches will be up-scaled and transferred to three independ ent commercial CIGS pilot lines located in three different European countries. Novel process and quality control techniques must also be developed and applied to reach these ambitious goals.

Integrated Geophysical Exploration Technologies for Deep Fractured Geothermal Systems (I-GET)

The share of renewable energy sources in the European energy balance can be increased by a meaningful contribution of geothermal energy. Since the mining cost (exploration and drilling) to access the resources represents over 60 percent of the total investment, a reduction in mining cost would increase the competitiveness of geothermal energy significantly. This goal can be achieved if we had a way to detect the presence of the fluids inside the natural and/or enhanced geothermal systems before any drilling operation. The project I-GET is aimed at developing an innovative geothermal exploration approach based on advanced geophysical methods. The objective is to improve the detection, prior to drilling, of fluid bearing zones in naturally and/or artificially fractured geothermal reservoirs. This new approach will be tested in four European geothermal systems with different geological and thermodynamic reservoir characteristics: two high enthalpy (metamorphic and volcanic rocks), one middle enthalpy geothermal system (deep sedimentary rocks), and one low enthalpy geothermal system (shallow sedimentary rocks). Petrophysical and geomechanical properties of the investigated rocks will be defined by laboratory measurements. With respect to the high enthalpy sites elastic and electric rock properties will be determined at the steam/liquid transition of the pore fillings. The validity of the laboratory and simulation results will be verified by new field experiments. Seismic and magnetotelluric data will be acquired in the test sites, and new acquisition and processing techniques will be developed to solve problems related to the particular target such as high temperatures, anisotropy, phase condition, etc.. The static and dynamic three-dimensional model of geothermal reservoirs will be reconstructed by means of all the data acquired. The input of the results of new geophysical prospecting into reservoir modelling is a crucial test of the quality of the new exploration method.

Generic Fuel Cell Modelling Environment (GENFC)

Objective: The GenFC proposal addresses the topic 'Generic tools for FC systems modelling, testing, safety and quality assurance' under the activity code SUSTDEV-1.2.1: Fuel cells including their applications. It falls into research activities having an impact in the medium to long term. The overall goal of GenFC is to provide a generic modelling tool to fuel cell and fuel cell systems developers making fuel cell modelling expert knowledge available to all of them. The fuel cell and fuel cell systems developers can us e this tool to improve and accelerate fuel cell development and to contribute to a future success of the fuel cell technology. It is believed that from the fuel cell (hardware) developer's point of view, a fuel cell modelling environment is desirable which can be used for simulation tasks exactly catering to the demand of the application engineer. The integrated modelling tool will assist fuel cell developers to improve their design- and optimisation processes in terms of accelerating development cycles, l owering costs, improving quality and hence also safety. The user of such a modelling environment will be able to choose through a user friendly interface a model out of a set of different types of fuel cells. Each type of fuel cell will be available in dif ferent implementations and each implementation is suitable for a particular application. The consortium consists of fuel cell technology developers, specific software providers, software engineers and fuel cell model users. Existing and in the course of t he project to be developed models and hardware in the loop systems for different types of fuel cells on all levels from system integration, via stack and cell down to electrode processes, are integrated in the tool and interfaced with a common data-base fo r process and design parameters. GenFC can help establish a competitive fuel cell industry in Europe contributing to the great challenge of migrating from a fossil fuel based economy to a sustainable one.

Thermally OPerated Mobile Air Conditioning Systems (TOPMACS)

Objective: The goal of this project is to develop mobile air conditioning systems with a reduced impact on the environment, both direct and indirect.Two new technologies will be explored:Metal Hydride, either powered by waste heat or by electric energySorption Cooling, powered by waste heatNeither of these technologies uses HCFCs, and so they do not have a direct impact on GWP. The key point is to develop systems that will have also lower indirect impact with respect to state of the art of mobile air conditioning systems. Both technologies has the potential for pre-cooling and pre-warming of the vehicle cabin. In addition to that, the advantages arising from the integration of a near zero Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) based on a Rankine cycle and able to provide electric power and heat (that can be modulated independently) will be evaluated so to study innovative architecture for the energy management of the overall vehicle.Two applications will be considered: Passenger carsLight and heavy trucksThe objective is to set up at least two prototypes: a truck and a car. Benefits for the environment will be quantified by means of calculations and tests in a climatic chamber and on the road. A methodology to evaluate at the same time thermal comfort and the associated energy performance will be developed.

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.

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.

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.

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