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Studie zur Verlegung der Esse bei Retterode

Das Projekt "Studie zur Verlegung der Esse bei Retterode" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Kassel, Institut für Wasser, Abfall und Umwelt, Fachgebiet Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft durchgeführt. Wegen der begrenzten Leistungsfähigkeit der Esse, kam es in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten in der Ortslage Retterode bei größeren Hochwasserereignissen mehrfach zu Überschwemmungen, die mit bedeutenden Sachschäden verbunden waren. Aus diesem Grund wurden bereits in früheren Studien verschiedene Alternativen des Hochwasserschutzes entwickelt, wie z. B. technischer Hochwasserschutz mit einem Hochwasserrückhaltebecken und der Ausbau der Esse in der Ortslage. Ein Ansatzpunkt zur natürlichen Verstärkung des Rückhaltes im Einzugsgebiet der Esse ergab sich aus der Besonderheit, dass der Lauf der Esse oberhalb der Ortslage Retterode im Rahmen des Bergbaus in den 60er Jahren verlagert wurde. Hier verläuft die Esse nach dem Abzweig vom ehemaligen Gewässerbett, nun mit zunächst geringem Gefälle durch einen tiefen Einschnitt am oberen Talrand. Nach etwa 430 m Fließstrecke knickt das Gewässer mit größerem Gefälle nach Süden ab und trifft erst am Ende eines flachen Feuchtgebietes wieder mit dem früheren Gewässerbett zusammen. Diese Verlegung führte dazu, dass der Normalabfluss nun in einem gleichförmigen Gerinne abgeleitet wird. Die Speicherwirkung des flachen Feuchtgebietes mit der abflussverzögernden Wirkung des Bewuchses, wird bei diesen Verhältnissen augenscheinlich umgangen. Ein Lösungsansatz war, an der Zweigstelle der beiden Gewässerläufe den Abfluss der Esse wieder vollständig in das ehemalige Gewässerbett und somit durch das Feuchtgebiet zu leiten. Aufgabe der Studie zur Verlegung der Esse war es zu untersuchen, ob durch eine vollständige Rückverlegung der Esse in das Feuchtgebiet oberhalb von Retterode, der Rückhalt auf natürliche Weise verstärkt wird, so dass auf den Bau technischer Rückhaltemaßnahmen weitgehend verzichtet werden kann. Hierzu wurde die bei einer Verlegung der Esse erreichbare Minderung der Hochwasserscheitel im Vergleich zum Ist-Zustand für die statistischen Hochwasserereignisse HQ5, HQ10, HQ50 und HQ100 berechnet. Die hydraulische Berechnung der Abflussaufteilung an der Verzweigung von vorhandenem und geplantem Esselauf hat ergeben, dass eine Beaufschlagung des geplanten Esseverlaufes durch das Feuchtgebiet, bereits im gegenwärtigen Zustand ab Abflüssen größer 1 m /s erfolgt und durch die betrachtete Planungsvariante nur unwesentlich erhöht würde. Somit wird trotz des erheblich größeren Rückhaltepotentials im geplanten Verlauf der Esse, durch die Verlegung der Esse keine Reduzierung der Hochwasserscheitel erreicht, weil dieses Potential bereits im Ist-Zustand genutzt wird. Die durchgeführten Berechnungen der Wellenverformung haben eindeutig ergeben, dass eine Verlegung der Esse nur eine sehr geringe abflussreduzierende Wirkung bei Hochwasserereignissen mit kleinen Wiederkehrintervallen (HQ5 und HQ10) hätte. Bei den statistischen Hochwasserereignissen HQ50 und HQ100 würden die Abflüsse sogar geringfügig erhöht werden. Eine Verbesserung des Hochwasserschutzes für die Ortslage Retterode kann damit durch die Verlegung der Esse nicht errei

Phase 1: Earth and Space Based Power Generation Systems

Das Projekt "Phase 1: Earth and Space Based Power Generation Systems" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Technische Thermodynamik, Abteilung Systemanalyse und Technikbewertung durchgeführt. This study has to be understood in the frame of the global Energy Policy. A great part of world energy production is currently based on non-renewable sources: oil, gas and coal. Global warming and restricted fossil energy sources force a strong demand for another climate compatible energy supply. Therefore, fossil energy sources will nearly disappear until the end of this century. The question is to find a viable replacement. By using viable' it is meant a low-cost and environmental friendly energy. In other words, the question is to find an alternative to nuclear energy among all proposed but still not mature renewable energies. One of the solutions proposed is solar energy. Yet, two major concerns slow down its development as an alternative: first, it lacks of technological maturity and secondly it suffers from alternating supply during days and nights, winters and summers. The idea proposed by Glaser in the sixties to bypass this inconvenient is to take the energy at the source (or at least, as near as possible): in other words, to put a solar station on orbit that captures the energy without problems of climatic conditions and to redirect it through a beam to the ground. That is the concept of Solar Power Satellites. Its principal feasibility was shown by DOE / NASA in 1970 years studies (5 GW SPS in GEO). Project objectives: This phase 1 study activity is to be seen as the initial step of a series of investigations on the viability of power generation in space facing towards an European strategy on renewable, CO2 free energy generation, including a technology development roadmap pacing the way to establish in a step-wise approach on energy generation capabilities in space. The entire activity has to be embedded in an international network of competent, experienced partners. As part of this, an interrelationship to and incorporation of activities targeting the aims of the EU 6th FP ESSPERANS should be maintained. In particular, the activities related to following objectives are described: The generation of scientifically sound and objective results on terrestrial CO2 emission free power generation solutions in comparison with state-of-the-art space based solar power solutions The detailed comparison and trades between the terrestrial and the space based solutions in terms of cost, reliability and risk The identification of possible synergies between ground and space based power generation solutions The assessment on terrestrial energy storage needs by combining ground based with space based energy generation solutions The investigation of the viability of concepts in terms of energy balance of the complete systems and payback times.

Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA)

Das Projekt "Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Institut für Technische Thermodynamik, Abteilung Systemanalyse und Technikbewertung durchgeführt. The project SWERA will provide solar and wind resource data and geographic information assessment tools to public and private sector executives who are involved in energy market development. It will demonstrate the use of these instruments in investment and policy decision making and build local capacities for their continuous use. The project will enable private investors and public policy makers to assess the technical, economic and environmental potential for large-scale investments in technologies that enable the exploitation of two increasingly important sources of renewable energy. During this pilot project, tools for analysis and use of resource information will be developed, a global archive and review mechanism will be initiated, regional/national solar and wind resource maps generated and national assessment demonstrations performed. The overall goal is to promote the integration of wind and solar alternatives in national and regional energy planning and sector restructuring as well as related policy making. The project will enable informed decision making and enhance the ability of participating governments to attract increased investor interest in renewable energy. Thirteen countries will be directly involved in the pilot stage of the project. Global and regional maps will be available to all developing countries. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will provide high resolution solar maps of the Direct Normal Irradiation. This is particularly important for concentrating solar power collectors. DLR will work with SUNY and INPE/LABSOLAR to integrate their high-resolution horizontal total radiation model. DLR and TERI will jointly execute the South Asian mapping using INSAT and METEOSAT-5 data. DLR will provide advice to national executing agencies and stakeholders on their activities and assist in the comparison of measurements and different mapping models.

Demonstration of bio-degradable, non-toxic, renewable eco-plasticisers that fully replace potentially hazardous phthalates thus reducing the impact on and risk to human health caused by these large-volume chemicals to zero

Das Projekt "Demonstration of bio-degradable, non-toxic, renewable eco-plasticisers that fully replace potentially hazardous phthalates thus reducing the impact on and risk to human health caused by these large-volume chemicals to zero" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Cerestar Deutschland GmbH durchgeführt. Project Background: Plasticisers are used to make plastic products (such as vinyl floor covering, electrical cables and foils) more flexible, resilient and easier to handle. More than 1.1 million tonnes of plasticisers are used annually within the EU. During the life-cycle of plastic products, phthalates are emitted into the environment. There are major concerns about the long-term impact in terms of the toxic, carcinogenic and potential hormone disruptive nature of phthalates. This is a cause for concern for consumers and legislators. Recent risk assessments have concluded that environmentally sound alternatives have to be developed and demonstrated. Cerestar has co developed a potential alternative. Project Objectives: The objectives of this project were threefold: - Demonstrate (in line with the 6th Environment Action Programme regarding reducing the impact of large volume man-made chemicals on the environment and human health) the benefit of applications of biodegradable, non-toxic plasticisers during the production of different plastic products. - Obtain reliable data that can be extrapolated to the whole plastics industry. - Inform, motivate and activate the plastics processing industry and other relevant actors to change to eco-plasticisers. After completion of the project, reliable data should show: - The technical and economic viability and the environmental benefits generated by applications of the eco-plasticiser. - That applications of the eco-plasticisers would result in a significant reduction of the use of phthalates, and therefore the impact that these hazardous chemicals have on the environment and human health. It was expected that the use of phthalates could be reduced by approximately 1 million tonnes annually in the EU, and that emissions would be reduced by a maximum of 5500 tonnes per year. - That a significant increase in resource efficiency could be reached by replacing non-renewable phthalates by renewable eco-plasticisers made from sugar polyols. The conclusions of this research were to be disseminated to target groups (such as the Cefic working group on plasticisers, the PVC-processing industry, European government bodies and institutes) through presentations, publications, workshops and the Internet. Project Results: The project was stopped early due to higher than expected product costs. The beneficiary tried to optimise the chemical reactions in order to remove undesired compounds and colour from the plasticisers and to find cheaper production methods. Despite substantial improvements, the cost calculation and market investigation showed that there is no possibility of a viable eco-plasticiser product at this time. Main reasons were given as: 1) Industry already moved to other phthalate substances, which are said to be less critical. 2) There are already alternatives like DINCH by competitors, which are cheaper than even optimistic eco-plasticiser calculations. 3) Legislative pressureis uncertain at the moment. usw.

Sustaining the long-term efficacy of CpGV-based products agaings codling moth

Das Projekt "Sustaining the long-term efficacy of CpGV-based products agaings codling moth" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum - Rheinpfalz durchgeführt. The efficient and environmentally friendly control of insect pests is a major challenge of modern crop protection. Cydia pomonella Granulovirus (CpGV) meets these requirements par excellence. CpGV-based products are used to control the codling moth (CM), the most severe pest on apples and pears. CpGV products play a key role for different producing and distributing European SMEs and are applied on more than 100000 ha in Europe. Last year, the first reports became available of CM populations with a dramatically decreased susceptibility to CpGV products. A spread of the observed resistance is a threat to the continued success of CpGV products and to the economic basis of the CpGV producing and distributing SMEs. Sustaining the long-term efficacy of CpGV products is of fundamental importance for these SMEs. It is also to the benefit of the consumers and meets the strategic targets of the Community Agricultural Policy. A multinational consortium including all European CpGV producers and research groups that demonstrated excellence in CpGV research was founded to develop scientific solutions for the SMEs. This consortium aims to achieve the following research and development (R&D) related objectives: 1) Determination of the susceptibilities of different European CM populations as a first step in looking at the possible differences in their response to CpGV; 2) Determination of the mechanisms involved in resistance development of CM against CpGV; 3) Identification and characterization of more virulent CpGV isolates as an alternative to the presently commercialised CpGV isolate; 4) Production, formulation and field efficacy of novel CpGV isolates. By focussing on these research tasks and providing alternatives to the presently used virus isolate, this project will become a pivotal step towards the preservation of CpGV and thus the competitiveness of the SMEs producing and selling them.

Trees in multi-Use Landscapes in Southeast Asia (TUL-SEA): A Negotiation Support Toolbox for Integrated Natural Resource Management

Das Projekt "Trees in multi-Use Landscapes in Southeast Asia (TUL-SEA): A Negotiation Support Toolbox for Integrated Natural Resource Management" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institut), Fachgebiet Pflanzenbau in den Tropen und Subtropen (490e) durchgeführt. Trees use water while storing carbon; tree crops replace natural forest while reducing poverty; market-oriented monocultures compete with risk-averse poly-cultures, trading off income and risk; plantations displace smallholders, trading off local rights and income opportunities; national reforestation programs use public resources, promising an increase in environmental services that may not happen. Trees in all these examples are closely linked to tradeoffs and conflict, exaggerated expectations and strong disappointment. Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) requires site-specific understanding of tradeoffs between and among the goods and services that trees in agro-ecosystems can provide. It is thus costly when compared to readily scalable green revolution technologies. Replicable, cost-effective approaches are needed in the hands of local professionals with interdisciplinary skills to help stakeholders sort out positive and negative effects of trees in multi-use landscapes ( agroforestry) on livelihoods, water and (agro) biodiversity, associated rights and rewards, and thus on Millenium Development Goals (reducing poverty - promoting equitable forms of globalisation - building peace). ICRAF in SE Asia has developed a negotiation support approach for reducing conflict in multi-use landscapes. The approach aims to bridge perception gaps between stakeholders (with their local, public/policy and scientific knowledge paradigms), increase recognition and respect for these multiple knowledge systems, provide quantification of tradeoffs between economic and environmental impacts at landscape scale, and allow for joint analysis of plausible scenarios. Building on the achievements of participatory rural appraisal, we can now add quantitative strengths with the toolbox for tradeoff analysis. The TUL-SEA project (NARS, ICRAF and Hohenheim) will in 3 years lead to: Tests of cost-effectiveness of appraisal tools for tradeoff analysis in a wide range of agroforestry contexts in SE Asia represented by 15 INRM case studies; building on ASB (Alternatives to Slash and Burn; http://www.asb.cgiar.org/) benchmark areas with significant positive local impacts on poverty, environment and peace (www.icraf.org/sea/Publications/searchpub.asp?publishid=1290); Enhanced national capacity in trade-off analysis, information-based INRM negotiations and ex ante impact assessments; An integrated toolbox ready for widespread application. The toolbox consists of instruments for rapid appraisal of landscape, tenure conflict, market, hydrology, agrobiodiversity and carbon stocks, and simulation models for scenario analysis of landscape-level impacts of changes in market access or agroforestry technology.

Profiling the toxicity of new drugs: a non animal-based approach integrating toxicodynamics and biokinetics (PREDICT-IV)

Das Projekt "Profiling the toxicity of new drugs: a non animal-based approach integrating toxicodynamics and biokinetics (PREDICT-IV)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Würzburg, Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Lehrstuhl für Toxikologie durchgeführt. The overall aim of Predict-IV is to develop strategies to improve the assessment of drug safety in the early stage of development and late discovery phase, by an intelligent combination of non animal-based test systems, cell biology, mechanistic toxicology and in-silico modelling, in a rapid and cost effective manner. A better prediction of the safety of an investigational compound in early development will be delivered. Margins-of-safety will be deduced and the data generated by the proposed approach may also identify early biomarkers of human toxicity for pharmaceuticals. The results obtained in Predict-IV will enable pharmaceutical companies to create a tailored testing strategy for early drug safety. The project will integrate new developments to improve and optimize cell culture models for toxicity testing and to characterize the dynamics and kinetics of cellular responses to toxic effects in vitro. The target organs most frequently affected by drug toxicity will be taken into account, namely liver and kidney. Moreover, predictive models for neurotoxicty are scarce and will be developed. For each target organ the most appropriate cell model will be used. The approach will be evaluated using a panel of drugs with well described toxicities and kinetics in animals and partly also in humans.

Knowledge Assessment and Sharing on Sustainable Agriculture (KASSA)

Das Projekt "Knowledge Assessment and Sharing on Sustainable Agriculture (KASSA)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V. durchgeführt. Conventional agriculture encompasses about half of the agricultural land territory of the UE countries; its negative impacts on the environment and the basic natural resources are recognised. Growing concerns of the society related to the environment deterioration such as water and food contaminations, livestock epidemics... compel to explore new ways able to improve the sustainability of the current farming systems. Alternative agricultural practices, technologies and approaches in support of sustainable agriculture have already been researched, developed, tested and implemented during the second half of the 20th century, in Europe but mainly in North and South America and Australia; they span million hectares. Learning from the results of theses experiences and researches and sharing lessons will undoubtedly contribute to define ways and tools able to orient European policy on sustainable agriculture development. KASSA proposal intends to build up a comprehensive knowledge base on sustainable agricultural practices, approaches and systems in support of European stakeholders: farmers and professionals, researchers and policy makers at local, national, European and global level. KASSA involves a critical mass of skilled partners dispatched up into four platforms: Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia and Latin America. It will be achieved through successive work sequences starting with a comprehensive inventory of existing results then continuing with a progressive refinement of the findings that alternate critical analysis and sharing of the results of each platform. Prime Contractor: Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement; Montpellier; France.

Development of a modelling system for prediction and regulation of livestock waste pollution in the humid tropics

Das Projekt "Development of a modelling system for prediction and regulation of livestock waste pollution in the humid tropics" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institut), Fachgebiet Pflanzenbau in den Tropen und Subtropen (490e) durchgeführt. Introduction: In Malaysia, excessive nutrients from livestock waste management systems are currently released to the environment. Particularly, large amounts of manure from intensive pig production areas are being excreted daily and are not being fully utilised. Alternatively, the excess manure can be applied as an organic fertiliser source in neighbouring cropping systems on the small landholdings of the pig farms to improve soil fertility so that its nutrients will be available for crop uptake instead of being discharged into water streams. Thus, there is a need for better tools to analyse the present situation, to evaluate and monitor alternative livestock production systems and manure management scenarios, and to support farmers in the proper management of manure and fertiliser application. Such tools are essential to quantify, and assess nutrient fluxes, manure quality and content, manure storage and application rate to the land as well as its environmental effects. Several computer models of animal waste management systems to assist producers and authorities are now available. However, it is felt that more development is needed to adopt such models to the humid tropics and conditions of Malaysia and other developing countries in the region. Objectives: The aim is to develop a novel model to evaluate nutrient emission scenarios and the impact of livestock waste at the landscape or regional level in humid tropics. The study will link and improve existing models to evaluate emission of N to the atmosphere, and leaching of nutrients to groundwater and surface water. The simulation outputs of the models will be integrated with a GIS spatial analysis to model the distribution of nutrient emission, leaching and appropriate manure application on neighbouring crop lands and as an information and decision support tool for the relevant users.

Umsetzung dezentraler Hochwasser-Schutzmaßnahmen am Beispiel der Bauna

Das Projekt "Umsetzung dezentraler Hochwasser-Schutzmaßnahmen am Beispiel der Bauna" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Kassel, Fachgebiet Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft durchgeführt. In den Jahren 1993 bis 1995 wurde vom Fachgebiet Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft ein Hochwasserschutzkonzept für das Einzugsgebiet der Bauna erarbeitet. Das Konzept beinhaltete folgende Maßnahmen zur Hochwasserreduzierung: - Renaturierung der Bachläufe, - Regenwasserbewirtschaftung, - Rückhalte unterschiedlicher Größe bis maximal 100.000 m Inhalt, - Lokale Maßnahmen in den Ortslagen. Auf der Studie aufbauend wurde im Rahmen dieses Projektes ein umfangreiches Messprogramm durchgeführt um das erforderliche Stauvolumen zu minimieren und die Anordnung der Becken im Einzugsgebiet und die Beckensteuerung zu optimieren. Im Einzugsgebiet wurden 4 Niederschlagsgeber mit Datenlogger, 2 Abflussmessstellen sowie eine Wetterstation zur Messung weiterer Klimaparameter eingerichtet. Die von 1997 bis 1999 durchgeführten Messungen wurde ausgewertet, mit älteren Aufzeichnungen von Tageswerten des Niederschlages verglichen und zur Verwendung in einem Niederschlag-Abfluss-Modell aufbereitet. Außerdem wurden umfangreiche Bodenuntersuchungen und Abflussmessungen mittels Messflügel während der Projektlaufzeit durchgeführt. Es wurde ein neues Niederschlag-Abfluss-Modell vom Einzugsgebiet aufgestellt und an Hand der gewonnenen Messdaten kalibriert. Hinsichtlich der Beckenstandorte wurde eine optimierte Lösung erarbeitet wobei einzelne Becken die in der Studie angesetzte maximale Größe von 100.000 m Stauvolumen überschreiten. Es zeigte sich, dass die Hochwasserwelle deutlich stärker reduziert werden kann, wenn die Hochwasserrückhaltebecken die Welle nicht nur verformen sondern auch bis zum Ablauf des Ereignisses zurückhalten und damit das Wellenvolumen deutlich reduzieren. Dies erfordert jedoch einen deutlich größeren Aufwand bei der Beckensteuerung. Alternative technische Lösungen wurden von den Ingenieurbüros angeregt und hydrologisch/hydraulisch überrechnet. An einem Standort wurde auf Grund eines Sondervorschlages eines Ingenieurbüros anstatt eines Durchlaufbeckens ein Polder gebaut, was einen geringeren Eingriff in das Gewässer und den Uferrandstreifen ermöglicht. Die 1997 begonnene bauliche und betriebliche Umsetzung wurde begleitet und die gemeinsam erarbeiteten Ausführungsvorschläge mit den Fachbehörden und der Öffentlichkeit diskutiert und abgestimmt. Das Projekt zeigt beispielhaft die Umsetzung dezentraler Hochwasserschutzmaßnahmen und hat Pilotfunktion für weitere Projekte dieser Art. Da die Bauherren bereits mit der Umsetzung des Konzeptes begonnen haben und diese konsequent fortführen werden, besteht hier die Möglichkeit auch die tatsächlichen Auswirkungen der umgesetzten Maßnahmen weiter zu untersuchen. Der umweltverträgliche Hochwasserschutz im Baunatal wurde als weltweites Projekt der EXPO 2000 in Hannover registriert.

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