Das Projekt "Governing the Common Sea (GOVCOM)? Changing modes of governance in the Baltic Sea Region" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Greifswald, Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Lehrstuhl für Vergleichende Regierungslehre durchgeführt. The pattern of environmental governance is changing as national governments are under stress from new political agents. In addition to the traditional nation state centered policy-making system, including international cooperation, political power is also exercised on the trans-national and local levels of society. A simultaneous movement of political power is also exercised on the trans-national and local levels of government and downward to local communities. Sub national units such as local governments, civic organisations and even loosely constructed networks introduce their own environmental policies. Global sustainability problems are created by the interaction of all societal levels, and a new politics of sustainability involving local, national, regional as well as global efforts must be implemented to solve these problems. National governments have responsed to this situation by introducing programs promoting ecological modernisation as well as new policy instruments that involve communities and other actors. The Baltic Sea Region (BSR) is an area of special concern both from an environmental point-of-view as well as from a governance point-of-view. The sea itself is highly vulnerable to pollution. At the same time the region is an ideal setting for the research because it has introduced several new fora for sustainable decision making, while showing considerable strength in existing administrative and political structures. The main objectives for this project are: Module 1. to deepen understanding of the origins, development and operation of traditional environmental governance in the BSR
Das Projekt "Efficient Low Temperature Geothermal Binary Power (LOW-BIN)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum durchgeführt. The LOW-BIN project aims in improving cost-effectiveness, competitiveness and market penetration of geothermal electricity generation schemes, targeting both hydrothermal resources for immediate market penetration and future hot dry rock systems, by: Widening market perspectives of geothermal Rankine Cycle power generation by developing a unit that can generate electricity from low temperature geothermal resources, with temperature threshold for profitable operation at 65 degree C , compared with 90-100 degree C of existing units. Developing a Rankine Cycle machine for cogeneration of heat and power by heat recovery from the cooling water circuit. This will lead in cogeneration of heat and power from Rankine Cycle units in present and future geothermal district heating schemes with overall energy efficiency of 98-99 percent, compared with 7-15 percent for existing units producing only electricity and for 35-60 percent of existing geothermal cogeneration schemes. The project will involve theoretical research, laboratory experimentation, pre-prototype development, technology evaluation of the pre-prototype in terms of technology breakthrough achievement, energy efficiency, electricity generation costs and market potential, manufacturing and demonstration of successful prototypes, monitoring and technology validation, as well as dissemination of the technology and other innovation related activities. The LOW-BIN project consortium consists of 9 partners from 8 countries: CRES (Greece-Coordinator), TURBODEN (Italy), GFZ-Potsdam (Germany), GEOTEAM (Austria), University of Oradea (Romania), ESTSet u bal (Portugal), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), BRGM (France) and ISOR (Iceland). The consortium involves 3 SME partners (TURBODEN, GEOTEAM and ISOR), which represent 62,01 percent of the budget. The total budget of the LOW-BIN project amounts at € 3.996.590, of which 17,70 percent is devoted to R&D activities, 69,64 percent for Demonstration and 9,28 percent to Innovation Related Activities. The EC Funding requested is €1.933.532 (48,38 Percent).