API src

Found 128 results.

Other language confidence: 0.5960761793124983

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.

Catenary Interface Monitoring Coherent sensing technology for electrical railway infrastructure and rolling stock for interoperable cross boundary transportation (CATIEMON)

Objective: In a deregulated EU rail market monitoring of the vehicle and infrastructure interface is mandatory for enhanced availability of operation reducing costs. Especially when a rolling stock is crossing boundaries between independent infrastructure grids, cond ition monitoring becomes crucial. A monitoring tool on OCLs overhead contact lines - for infrastructure managers is needed for an separate measurement of contact force and surface condition of the vehicle current strip. The rolling stock operator needs a complementary device to measure not only the vertical contact force, but moreover the friction force, in order to analyse the vehicle and OCL interface condition. In SMITS a monitoring system for contact force on the interface current collector lt;- gt; c ontact wire has been developed. A sensor technology has been started to explore showing the potential for an extended range of rail monitoring tools. An innovative coherent sensor technology approach shall be investigated and two independent monitoring too ls for vehicle and infrastructure be developed. These shall be validated at new rail tracks specified for TSI interoperable cross boundary transportation: the Ltschberg Basis Tunnel, CH and the HSL Zuid high speed line, NL, both ready for operation in 2007 . Demonstration tests in operation will be performed along the Korridor X infrastructure passing through different countries rail networks. The outcome of the project will enable managers to specify driving conditions for the usage of their infrastructure to avoid excessive wear improving availability. Complementary rolling stock operators can monitor OCL condition giving them an informative argument in case of damage. Condition-dependent user fees as well as threat of penalty will force vehicle and infrast ructure managers to maintain the vehicle and infrastructure interface on a superior level of availability. The operational costs will be reduced and availability of transportation capacity enhanced.

New sustainable concepts and processes for optimization and upgrading municipal wastewater and sludge treatment (NEPTUNE)

The scope of sewage treatment is changing: Up to date municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were seen as an end-of-pipe treatment just before discharge, having the aim to avoid eutrophication and hygienic health hazard in surface water. Due to the global demographic trends as well as new legislations (e.g. the Water Framework Directive, WFD) increased focus is put on quantity and quality of effluents: WWTP are more and more seen as interface between sanitation and environment, delivering resources to the environment or human activities (recharge of drinking water reservoirs, recycling of nutrient, efficient energy use). This focus shift has implications on the quality goals set for WWTP products: land requirement, effluent N, P load, effluent pathogen load, energy optimization. New focus: nutrient recycling, micropollutants: ecotoxicology of the effluent energy production. NEPTUNE is focusing on technology solutions allowing to meet present and future standards via upgrading of existing infrastructure (new control strategies with online sensors; effluent upgrading with oxidation, activated carbon or wetland treatment; sludge processing for safe nutrient recycle) as well as via new techniques (fuel cell applications; new oxidative agents; polymer production from sludge). By including pathogen and ecotoxicity aspects into life cycle assessment studies (LCA), the project is helping improve the comparability of various technical options and propose a suitability ranking. The new focus given by the WFD and the emerging interest on organic (eco-)toxic compounds requires characterizing treated effluent and treatment technologies concerning ecotoxicologic aspects and micropollutants. The project is contributing to this discussion by ecotoxicity assessment and micropollutant fate studies.

Enhanced co-operation between EU member states and associated candidate states in maritime research on transport (ENCOMAR - TRANSPORT)

Objective: ENCOMAR-TRANSPORT aims to improve co-operation between the new member states, applicant countries as well as Russia, Ukraine and Turkey in the maritime fields. ENCOMAR-TRANSPORT has two general strategic objectives:- to support the integration of the new member states, applicant countries, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey into the European Maritime Research Area, thus supporting EU policies and the formation of ERA- to support the goals defined in the maritime part of the Sustainable Surface Priority of the 6 th Framework Programme. To support integration, ENCOMAR-TRANSPORT will help to jointly use R&D potentials and resources.ENCOMAR-TRANSPORT will promote a culture of innovation and fertilize participation of SMEs in European research. Technically, enhan ced exchange of information, technology transfer and research cooperation initiated by the project will help to meet demands of European transport policy and to the objectives of the sustainable surface transportpriority. Particular focus will be on:- S hipbuilding and -repair, including ship equipment manufacturers and maritime service providers,- Waterborne (long-haul, short sea and inland waters) transport in Europe.- Maritime Transport safety will especially focus on transport of dangerous goods to a void environmental- hazards in European waters, the Baltic and Mediterranean and Black Sea.- Efficient transport of marine natural resources is in the focus as well. The following activities will be undertaken:- Creation of a Network of Maritime R&D N ational Contact Points.- Inform about potentials and activities of European research in the new member states and neighbours of the EU by workshops in those countries. Inform research community and industry about the potential of countries not yet integra ted in European research.

CO2SINK - In-situ Labor zur Untersuchung der Speicherung von Kohlendioxid unter der Erde

Ketzin ist eine Stadt westlich von Berlin im Land Brandenburg. In ihrer Nähe wurde seit 1960 Erdgas aus Sibirien in unterirdischen Sandsteinschichten zwischengelagert. Diese Erdgasspeicherung wurde vor kurzem eingestellt. Hier soll ein Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekt eingerichtet werden, bei dem das Treibhausgas Kohlendioxid (CO2 ) im Untergrund gelagert werden soll. Das Projekt wird vom GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam koordiniert und von der Europäischen Union mit 8.7 Millionen Euro gefördert. Das Projekt soll helfen, das wissenschaftliche Verständnis der geologischen Speicherung von CO2 weiter zu entwickeln und die im Untergrund ablaufenden Prozesse der CO2 Injektion praktisch zu erforschen. Zunächst werden geologisch-geophysikalisch-geochemische Voruntersuchungen des Standortes und des vorgesehenen Speicherhorizontes sowie eine umfassende Risikoabschätzung vorgenommen um sicherzustellen, dass die Speicherung auch gefahrlos durchgeführt werden kann. Die erforderlichen Bewilligungen des zuständigen Bergamtes, der örtlichen Gemeinde und das Einverständnis der betroffenen Anwohner müssen dazu eingeholt werden. Die künftige Nutzung des Geländes ist Teil eines behördlich bereits genehmigten Bebauungsplans, der auch andere Vorhaben zur Nutzung regenerativer Energie aus Wind, Sonne und Biomasse einschließt. Das CO2 SINK Projekt erlaubt die Weiterverwendung vorhandener Gasspeicher-Infrastrukturen. Geplant ist die unterirdische Injektion von jährlich mehreren 10,000 Tonnen an reinem CO2 für zunächst zwei bis drei Jahre. Das CO2 soll dabei vorwiegend aus regenerativen Biomasse-Energierohstoffen gewonnen werden. Dieses ermöglicht im Prinzip, CO2 aus der Atmosphäre zu entziehen und damit die Treibhausgaskonzentration zu verringern. Unterirdische Erdgasspeicher und geologische Speicher für CO2 in salinen Grundwasserleitern (Aquifere) haben zwei gemeinsame Merkmale: Sie bestehen aus Gestein mit großem Porenraum wie z.B. Sandstein, das von abdichtenden Tonschichten überdeckt ist. Im Untergrundspeicher Ketzin wurde das Erdgas in einer Sandsteinschicht zwischen 250 und 400 Meter Tiefe unter der Erde gelagert. Aus Erkundungsbohrungen und seismischen Messungen weiß man, dass es dort aber noch mindestens eine weitere gut geeignete Speicherschicht in größerer Tiefe gibt. Diese ist rund 80 Meter mächtig und liegt auf einer geologischen Kuppe, die sich bis ungefähr 600 Meter unter der Erdoberfläche aufwölbt. Die Sandsteinschicht fällt nach allen Seiten auf etwa 700 Meter ab und ist von abdichtenden Gips- und Tonschichten überlagert. Um den Untergrund und die bei der CO2 Speicherung darin ablaufenden Prozesse verstehen zu können, ist im Projekt CO2SINK eine umfassende Reihe von wissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen geplant. Usw.

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.

NextGenCell - The next generation of stationary fuel cells (NEXTGENCELL)

Objective: Designed as a joint EU and US collaborative effort in the framework of the EU-US Cooperation Agreement on fuel cells, NextGenCell aims to bring domestic fuel cell microCHP (1-5kWel) next step towards commercialisation. In FP5 Vaillant, Plug Power, and othe r European partners have demonstrated low temperature PEM fuel cell microCHP systems. Three major hurdles were identified: 1. Costs must be reduced significantly, 2. Reliability must be improved via system simplification, 3. System temperature must be increased. High Temperature (HT) PEM MEA technology at 160-180 C has the potential to overcome those hurdles. R&D on MEA, Fuel Cell System, components development and integration will lead to a developed and tested 1-5kW HT PEM fuel cell prototype microCH P system with modular design for global markets. Specific objectives relevant to TP 6.1 at production volumes are: 1. Total system costs less than 400 EUR/kW: - Significant system simplification (no CO clean-up and water management) - Increase mechanical stability of MEA - Reduction of system costs (e.g. of Balance of Plant, fuel processor, maintenance/recycling) and low cost bi-directional inverter development 2. Modular system design: - modular system design for different market applications (CHP and future tri-generation) - Increase electrical efficiency up to 35Prozent with 85Prozent total efficiency 3. Durability greater than 40.000 hours: - MEA Development with more stable cathode material and corrosion -resistant cathodes 4. Electronic control systems for optimal heat and power management and reduced costs; - CHP hydraulics concept Development (system scalability 1-5kW) - Embedded controller with 70Prozent less cost - microCHP Controls optimisation in a Virtual Power Plant. The team is based on strong industrial and scientifically partnership, includes a SME and participants from Acceding Country Bulgaria and Slovenia as one of the new member states. Five participants have expressed to join the Joint Technology Platform (JTI).

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.

A coordination action to prepare European Hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration projects (HYLIGHTS)

Objective: HyLights is a CA facilitating the planning of HyCOM. Focus is an assessment of concluded/ongoing H2/FC demonstration projects and recommendations for the preparation of HyCOM/Lighthouse Projects LP. Although HyLights's assessment focuses on transport stationary and portable H2 applications will be considered if synergies become apparent. HyLights will comprise 3 phases of 12 months each. Phase I includes a methodology definition and assessment, Phase II gaps analysis and development of recommendations and Phase III continuous monitoring. HyLights will need to draw from a network of relevant experts. For this purpose a European Partnership for Hydrogen in Transport EPHT will be established to extend the reach of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Platform HFP. An asset of EPHT will be to include the member states/regions view through a moderation process. Dissemination of the project results will supplement the activity, coherently presenting the European demonstration projects.

Compact direct (m)ethanol fuel cell for portable application (MOREPOWER)

Objective: The objective is to develop a low-cost, low temperature, portable direct methanol fuel cell device. It will also offer limited operation on ethanol fuel and will be of compact construction and modular design. The development will include novel proton exchange membranes, anode and cathode electro catalysts and fully optimised multilayer membrane electrode assemblies. New low-cost proton exchange membranes will be developed to reduce the methanol crossover rate through the electrolyte to levels significantly lower than that of currently available materials (e.g. Nafion). New electro catalyst materials will be developed to enhance the low temperature methanol (and ethanol) electro-oxidation activity of the anode. Catalyst development for the cathode will focus on enhancing the oxygen reduction activity of platinum electro catalyst and increasing its selectivity to enhance methanol tolerance. The structure of the electro catalyst and electrode layers will be optimised to promote efficient operation at low temperatures with practical flows and pressures. System optimisation, simplification and miniaturization will be carried out. The final performance objectives will be: single cells operating at 0.5V / cell at 0.2 Acm-2 at 30-60 C (in atmospheric pressure air). Prototypes of 100 and later 500 W stacks, operating at low temperatures with aimed electrical characteristics of 40 A/12.5 V, will be the targets of the project. The effective operation at this low temperature is particularly challenging. Additionally a conceptual study for up-scale will be supplied. A narrow collaboration between research centres and industry will make possible a rapid exploitation of the new components and system developments. A SME will be responsible for the integration and will deliver the prototypes. The potential market for portable fuel cells includes weather stations, medical devices, signal units, auxiliary power units, gas sensors and security cameras.

1 2 3 4 511 12 13