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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are caused by local proliferation of algae, with deleterious consequences, particularly in coastal waters throughout the world. Negative environmental effects include toxicity to human consumers of seafood, marine faunal mortalities or morbidity, habitat damage, disruption of marine food webs and economic losses to fishing, aquaculture, and tourism. In Europe, socio-economic factors and human health risk have led to comprehensive surveillance programmes for harmful microalgae and their toxins. Among harmful microalgae and cyanobacteria in European marine and brackish waters, many produce potent neurotoxins, ichthyotoxins or hepatotoxins. Although structural elucidation of many of these groups of toxins has advanced, much less is known about biosynthetic pathways and gene regulation in toxigenic species. We propose a limited genomic study of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for toxigenic representatives of major eukaryotic microalgal groups, including dinoflagellates, raphidophytes, prymnesiophytes and diatoms, and cyanobacteria. Cultures will be grown under various environmental conditions to investigate the effects of external forcing functions on gene expression linked to toxicity and growth. After cloning of cDNA of toxigenic strains pooled from cultures grown under these different conditions into plasmid vectors, about 10,000 clones from each taxon will be randomly sequenced for ESTs. Our approach is to annotate the ESTs and attempt to identify genes associated with toxin production. DNA microarrays will be developed for screening of toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains. In addition, the sequence data will be analysed to identify other genes that may be involved in cell regulation or growth, cell cycle events, stress response and the induction of sexuality. Cultures will be grown under various environmental conditions to investigate the effects of external forcing functions on gene expression linked to toxicity and growth. Successful completion of this project will yield new information on microalgal and cyanobacterial genomic sequences for a diversity of taxa and will assist in the diagnosis of genes related to toxin biosynthesis and the formation of toxic blooms.
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.
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.
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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