Das Projekt "Net.Excel: Network of Excellence in Nuclear Waste Management" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) gGmbH - Fachbereich Endlagersicherheitsforschung durchgeführt. The objective of the project is to develop a common and systematic basis for priorities and co-ordination of future European research, technical development and demonstration (RTD) for Radioactive Waste Management, and suggest areas and priorities for joint RTD-projects. The basis will make it possible to enhance the cost effectiveness by avoiding unnecessary duplication, by coordinating different activities focused on similar goals, and by an effective utilisation of European skills and know-how.
Das Projekt "Regulating informality - the influence of planning standards on long term suitability of urban settlements - the cases of Dar es Salaam/Tanzania and Durban/South Africa" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Dortmund, Fachgebiet Stadt- und Regionalplanung durchgeführt. In Sub-Saharan Africa urbanisation is progressing at a rate unprecedented in human history. In most countries, the state is not in a position to apply a responsive legal framework and to mobilise adequate resources to guide urbanisation. A major obstacle are the outdated legal framework and the inappropriate planning concepts inherited from colonial governments which often contradict post colonial policies (Ambe 1999) and are unsuitable to respond to rapid urban growth. Consequently, insufficient formal building land is released to the market and informal settlements emerge resulting often in dysfunctional urban fabrics. In Dar es Salaam, informal settlements cover more than 70Prozent of the city area because the public sector cannot provide sufficient land and settlers have to buy plots on the informal land market. In Durban, where 25 to 30Prozent of the population live in informal settlements, the rate has remained relatively constant despite large scale provision of housing through government programmes. Both cases show the need for a new approach to statutory planning in order to guide urban development effectively and to create more functional settlements. Using a mainly empirical approach this study will analyse factors that determine space standards and land use in prevalent types of formally planned and informal settlements. It aims to identify parameters to ascertain the long-term suitability of settlements, understood as being functional and flexible to respond to future demands resulting from socio-economic development. Starting point of the research are the livelihood strategies of the residents. The aim is to evolve a responsive framework for statutory planning including spatial standards for settlements that reflect the current reality of urbanisation under poverty while addressing future needs.
Das Projekt "Possible Future Developments in the European Transport Sector and their Implications for Transport and Business Activities in the Port of Rotterdam Area until 2050" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie gGmbH durchgeführt. Der Hafenbetrieb Rotterdam hat das Wuppertal Institut damit beauftragt mögliche Treibhausgasreduktionspfade für die Transportaktivitäten in der Hafenregion bis 2050 detaillierter aufzuzeigen und zu untersuchen. Die wichtigsten Fragestellungen, die innerhalb der Studie analysiert werden, sind: - Wie kann der Gütertransport in der Hafenregion dekabonisiert werden? - Wie wirkt sich eine dekabonisierte Welt in 2050 auf die Transport- und Logistikaktivitäten am Rotterdamer Hafen aus? - Wie kann der Hafenbetrieb Rotterdam die Dekarbonisierung des (maritimen) Gütertransports unterstützen? - Wie kann der Rotterdamer Hafen sein Geschäftsmodell an eine klimaschonende Zukunft anpassen? Dies ist ein Folgeprojekt einer früheren Studie, in der das Wuppertal Institut für den Hafenbetrieb Rotterdam verschiedene Klimaschutzszenarien für das Industriecluster der Hafenregion untersuchte. Generell zeigt sich der Hafenbetrieb Rotterdam, auf dessen Gebiet jährlich mehr als 30 Millionen Tonnen CO2 ausgestoßen werden, seit Jahren stark interessiert, wie sich die unternehmensrelevanten Treibhausgasemissionen deutlich senken lassen. Mit einer starken Reduktion der Treibhausgasemissionen könnte die Hafenregion einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Umsetzung des Pariser Klimaabkommens und zum Erreichen der Emissionsreduktionsziele der Europäischen Union (EU) leisten mit etwa 80 bis 95 Prozent Reduktion bis 2050 gegenüber 1990.
Das Projekt "Monocrystalline solar cell cost-effective production technology" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Bayer, Geschäftsbereich Anorganische Industrieprodukte durchgeführt. General Information/Objectives: The major aim of this project is the development of a low cost, high efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cell process and the demonstration of its applicability in an industrial type environment. The project deals with a broad solar cell production cycle from crystallisation up to an encapsulated solar cell. The detailed objectives are as follows: - screening the current and future environmental regulations, - decrease amount of wet chemicals used in cell fabrication, - development of Czochralski monocrystalline silicon material with reduced oxygen content, - determination of cost efficient wafer thickness and size, - achievement of 19 per cent efficient large area (10x10cm2) encapsulated Czochralski monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Technical Approach The project is divided into 6 tasks, each with a task leader who organises experiments of limited duration, and takes care of their execution, complying with the time schedule and milestones. 1 Crystallisation and wafering: development of Cz-Si material with a low oxygen content, large and thin substrates with different bulk resistivities (Bayer). 2 Environmental issues, cleaning and etching: study the environmental restrictions and stimulate the development of solar cell processes with an unavoidable minimum of hazardous processing materials (Siemens Solar). 3 Design and optimisation of solar cell processes: development of a commercial process fulfilling requirements of efficiency and low cost (IMEC). 4 Measurements and modelling: create a reliable basis for all possible characterisations and modelling of substrate materials and solar cells developed during the project (Univ. Napoli). 5 Cell-module interaction: studying the different encapsulating materials, accelerated stability tests and cell-module interaction (Soltech). 6 Implementation in a production line: implementation of developed processes in the BP Solar, Siemens Solar and Bayer production pilot lines, assessment of efficiency and cost (BP Solar). Expected Achievements and Exploitation The optimisation of materials and processing steps should result in a solar cell process compatible with mass production. An efficiency of 19 per cent on large area (10x10cm2) Czochralski monocrystalline silicon should be achieved as well as a significant reduction of the hazardous materials both in the processing and waste materials. The project will result in a large reduction in the cost/Wp since it aims at significant increase of solar cells efficiency while involving only low cost, industrial type processing techniques and the solar cell processing itself only takes a relatively small fraction of the overall module cost. The optimised process will be implemented in the production lines of the industrial partners. Prime Contractor: Interuniversitair Mikro-Electronika Centrum VZW, Materials and Packaging Department; Leuven; Belgium.
Das Projekt "Biodiversity and Climate" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Frankfurt am Main, Institut für Ökologie, Evolution und Diversität, Abteilung Aquatische Ökotoxikologie durchgeführt. Since July 2008, our Department is a cooperation partner and member of the new Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in Frankfurt. BiK-F is a joint Centre between Senckenberg Nature Research Society, Goethe University and several further partners. The Centre is supported by the State of Hesse in the framework of the Initiative for the Development of Scientific and Economic Excellence (LOEWE) with approximately 22 million € for research within the first three years The mission of BiK-F is to carry out internationally outstanding research on the interactions of organismal biodiversity and climate. Using a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art methods from satellite-supported remote sensing of climate, area and ecosystem reactions to advanced genomics and mass spectrometry, the scientists of the centre document and analyse past and present patterns and processes with the goal of providing reliable predictions of future developments. Our Department is responsible for the BiK-F projects B2.8 (Indigenous and invasive species: An investigation of displacement potential under climate change conditions) and C4.2 (Effects of multiple stressors on aquatic organisms and ecosystems).
Das Projekt "Vorstrukturierung von Bauerwartungsland fuer neue Formen des Wohnens in Einfamilienhausgebieten" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hannover, Institut für Grünplanung und Gartenarchitektur durchgeführt. Den Gemeinden sollen im Rahmen ihrer Bauleitplanung neue, verbesserte Konzepte zur integrierten Planung von Einfamilienhausgebieten an die Hand gegeben werden, die - bei sparsamer Nutzung der Baulandreserven eine optimale Einbindung in den orts- und landschaftsraeumlichen Zusammenhang gewaehrleisten, - durch Vorstrukturierung mit landschaftbaulichen Mitteln der Vegetation, des Reliefs, der Wasserfuehrung und des Klimaschutzes qualitaetvolle Wohnformen ermoeglichen, - durch Raumbildung Voraussetzungen fuer das Entstehen lokaler Identitaet der kuenftigen Bewohner schaffen.
Das Projekt "Advanced turbulence simulation for aerodynamic application challenges (ATAAC)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) durchgeführt. The ATAAC project aims at improvements to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods for aerodynamic flows used in today's aeronautical industry. The accuracy of these is limited by insufficient capabilities of the turbulence modelling / simulation approaches available, especially at the high Reynolds numbers typical of real-life flows. As LES will not be affordable for such flows in the next 4 decades, ATAAC focuses on approaches below the LES level, namely Differential Reynolds Stress Models (DRSM), advanced Unsteady RANS models (URANS), including Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS), Wall-Modelled LES, and different hybrid RANS-LES coupling schemes, including the latest versions of DES and Embedded LES. The resources of the project will be concentrated exclusively on flows for which the current models fail to provide sufficient accuracy, e.g. in stalled flows, high lift applications, swirling flows (delta wings, trailing vortices), buffet etc. The assessment and improvement process will follow thoroughly conceived roadmaps linking practical goals with corresponding industrial application challenges and with modelling/simulation issues through stepping stones represented by appropriate generic test cases. The final goals of ATAAC are: - to recommend one or at most two best DRSM for conventional RANS and URANS- to provide a small set of hybrid RANS-LES and SAS methods that can be used as reference turbulence-resolving approaches in future CFD design tools - to formulate clear indications of areas of applicability and uncertainty of the proposed approaches for aerodynamic applications in industrial CFD - Contributing to reliable industrial CFD tools, ATAAC will have a direct impact on the predictive capabilities in design and optimisation, and directly contribute to the development of Greener Aircraft.
Das Projekt "Geobiologische Interaktionen zwischen Hydrothermalfluiden und symbiotischen Primärproduzenten an Spreizungsachsen" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Max-Planck-Institut für marine Mikrobiologie durchgeführt. In den letzten 2 Jahren des SPP 1144 werden wir unsere Untersuchungen an endosymbiontischen Bakterien in Evertebraten, einer der wichtigsten Gruppen von Primärproduzenten an Hydrothermalquellen des Mittelatlantischen Rückens (MAR), abschließen. In enger Zusammenarbeit mit Geologen und Geochemikern soll der Einfluss von unterschiedlichen geologischen Strukturen und Gradienten in Ventfluiden auf symbiontische Diversität, Biomasse und Aktivität aufgeklärt werden. Diese Forschung wird zu einer der Kernfragen des SPP 1144 beitragen: Welche Wechselwirkungen bestehen zwischen hydrothermalen und biologischen Prozessen? Eine weitere Kernfrage des SPP 1144 ist: Wie beeinflussen Achsenmorphologie und Meeresströmungen die Verbreitung von Ventorganismen entlang der Rückenachse? Biogeographische Analysen der Symbionten von Muscheln und Garnelen sollen zeigen, ob geologische und hydrologische Barrieren zwischen den nördlichen und südlichen Hydrothermalquellen zu einer räumlichen Isolierung von symbiotischen Bakterien führen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Forschung liefern einen wichtigen Beitrag zum Verständnis der Kopplung geologischer und biologischer Prozesse an gemäßigt spreizenden Rückenachsen.
Das Projekt "Action for Training in Land use And Sustainability (ATLAS)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Salzburg, Arbeitsgruppe Angewandte Geoinformatik und Kartographie durchgeführt. ATLAS brings together the expertise of the leading European research, education and training institutions in the area of land use and sustainability impact assessment, combining innovative research efforts and practical experiences, enabling an educational breakthrough required to meet the ambitions of the Sub-priority. The fragmented nature of education and training provision in sustainability impact assessment for land use planning is a major barrier to the management of rapid land use change that is now occurring in Europe. As a result the Commission wishes to: - take stock of what educational resources exist, - assess their adequacy; and, - stimulate the development of appropriate strategies and initiatives for the future. ATLAS will enable the coordination and dissemination of educational practice and the development of future training initiatives for policy and practice in this area throughout Europe. It will result in: - A baseline description (on-line data base) of the status of educational provision at practitioner's, professional, undergraduate and Master's levels, within Europe; - A SWOT-analysis of the extent to which this provision meets current needs, with clear recommendations for improvement; and, - A 'road-map' for training in land use sustainability assessment providing better European organisation of the educational provision leading to appropriate professional qualifications. ATLAS will permit the Commission to achieve the mentioned requirements, by bringing together the three leading international networks concerned with sustainable land use management in Europe, namely LANDSCAPE EUROPE, ECLAS and Landscape Tomorrow. These networks have differing focuses within this area but together have a complete coverage of the subject. They moreover benefit from direct participation in relevant IP's, such as SENSOR and SEAMLESS. Improved co-ordination of their efforts on education and training will have great benefits for the effectiveness of the policies currently developed. Prime Contractor: Tallinna Ulikool; Tallinn; Estonia.
Das Projekt "REmote Climate Effects and their Impact on European sustainability, Policy and Trade (RECEIPT)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Stichting Deltares durchgeführt. In an interconnected world, Europe's economy will be increasingly affected by climate change impacts that occur beyond its border. The movement of goods and services, people and capital occurs at ever increasing rates and volumes. This complex network reveals Europe's globalized climate exposure, vulnerability and risk structure, through which both gradual and sudden impacts of climatic features at any location on the world (hurricanes, droughts, melting ice sheets) propagate, ultimately impacting Europe's socio-economic welfare. Public awareness of Europe's sensitivity to global climate impacts is steadily growing. In order to provide relevant and quantitative information on the European risks from remote global climatic features, RECEIPT will develop and implement a novel stakeholder driven storytelling concept that maps representative connections between European socio-economic activities and remote climatic hazards. Using a limited number of storylines designed for selected sectors, RECEIPT has the following key objectives and deliverables: - Mapping of global hotspots of remote areas with climate features relevant for Europe, using state-of- the-art climate and climate-impact databases; - Science-based sectoral storylines co-developed with societal partners, describing the impacts of remote climate change on: European food security, the financial sector, international development, commodities and European coastal infrastructure; - Assessment of European socio-economic impacts along each of the selected storylines under different future climatic conditions, including high-end climate scenarios; - A robust synthesis of the storyline results into a pan-European socio-economic risk assessment focusing on the difference between high-end and moderate climate change conditions; - Innovative web-based concepts for visualizing potential impacts of remote drivers and mapping risk mitigation options.