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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.

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).

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.

Biomass fluidised bed gasification with in situ hot gas cleaning (AER-GAS II)

Objective: The project aim is a low-cost gasification process with integrated in-situ gas cleaning for the conversion of biomass into a product gas with high hydrogen concentration, high heating value and low tar/alkali/sulphur concentration in one process step for s ubsequent power production. The proposed process uses in-situ CO2 capture (AER, Absorption Enhanced Reforming). It is more efficient than conventional gasification due to (i) the in-situ integration of the reaction heat of CO2 absorption and water-gas shif t reaction heat (both exothermic) into the gasification and (ii) the internal reforming of primary and secondary tars, which cuts off the formation of higher tars. Thus, the chemical energy of tars remains in the product gas. The product gas after dust rem oval can directly be used in a gas engine for electricity generation. Due to the low operation temperature (up to 700 C) and due to CaO-containing bed materials, the proposed process allows the use of problematic feedstocks such as biomass with high minera l and high moisture content, e.g. straw, sewage sludge, etc., leading to an increased market potential for biomass gasification processes. Screening/development of absorbent materials with high attrition stability and tar cracking properties will be carrie d out. Analysis of tar formation/decomposition process will be studied in a lab-scale fixed bed reactor and a 100 kWth circulating fluidised bed reactor (continuous mode). With the acquired data, the 8 MWth biomass plant at Guessing, Austria, will be opera ted with absorbent bed material in order to prove the feasibility of a scale-up and to assess the economical aspects of the process. In order to point out the market potential, the cost reduction of the AER technology will be quantified in comparison with the conventional gasification power plant. Expected results will be: (i) a broad knowledge of the proposed process and (ii) a low-cost technology for biomass gasification with subsequent power production.

Reduktion des Verkehrslärms in städtischen Ballungsregionen

SILENCE ist ein integriertes Projekt im 6. EU Rahmenprogramm und basiert auf einer Kooperation von 45 Partnern aus den Bereichen Straßen- und Schienenverkehr sowie Städteplanung. Ziel ist die Entwicklung eines integrierten Systems von Methoden und Technologien für eine effiziente Reduktion der Belastung durch Verkehrslärm unter Berücksichtigung von Individualverkehr (Straße), Massentransport (Straße und Schiene) und Städteplanung. Teilprojekte: A Lärmwirkung B Computersimulation C Wechselwirkung Reifen-Straße D Schallemission Straßenfahrzeuge E Schallemission Schienenfahrzeuge F Oberflächen von Straßen G Schieneninfrastruktur H Verkehrslenkung Straßenverkehr I Städteplanung J Migration der Projektergebnisse in die Anwendung. Das gesamte Projektbudget beträgt 15.8 Millionen Euro bei einer EU-Förderung von 8.9 Millionen Euro. Die DB AG ist an den Teilprojekten E und G beteiligt mit den Schwerpunkten: 1. Reduktion des von der Schiene abgestrahlten, - Luftschalls 2. Reduktion der Luftschallemission von, - Güterwagenrädern.

Integriertes Europäisches Netzwerk für Biomasse Co-Verbrennung (NETBIOCOF)

In NETBIOCOF arbeitet das TTZ mit 24 weiteren Partnern aus 19 verschiedenen zentral- und ost-europäischen Ländern zusammen. Das Ziel dieser Koordinierungsmaßnahme ist der Aufbau einer multilateralen, interdisziplinären Interessengruppe von europäischen Fachleuten für die nachhaltige Beförderung von Biomasse Co-Verbrennung. NETBIOCOF fördert internationale Zusammenarbeit zwischen Forschungsinstitutionen, Verbänden, Universitäten in einen europäischen Zusammenhang mit einer speziellen Ausrichtung auf die osteuropäischen Länder. Eine beständige Plattform für Experten und Forschung im Biomasse Co-Verbrennung und ein Sachverständigennetzwerk werden eingerichtet, um nutzbringende Forschung und strategische Aktivitäten zu koordinieren, zu bestimmen und zu leiten, mit dem Ziel einerseits ein optimales Verfahren, Wissenslücken und Grenzen für das weitere Vorgehen zu bestimmen und andererseits Vorschläge für die Richtung zukünftiger Forschungen zu unterbreiten.

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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