- Current language: en
North East England
PlasCarb
Innovative plasma based transformation of food waste into high value graphitic carbon and renewable hydrogen
Redcar, Teesside
Climate and environment
PlasCarb has been stimulated by a transnational consortium of R&D performing SMEs in partnership with specialist scientific resource, life cycle thinking experts, industrial customers, and access to risk finance to facilitate future market uptake. It will integrate commerce with research; transforming a widespread urban solid waste environmental problem (140 million tonnes of food and plant waste produced annually in Europe) into a sustainable source of significant economic added value, (high value graphitic carbon and renewable hydrogen). The vast majority of hydrogen and carbon used today in industry are derived from fossil petroleum sources, the majority of which are imported into the EU from regions which are often politically unstable or competitive. PlasCarb will integrate an established technology (anaerobic digestion) with innovative, low temperature microwave plasma processing and leading edge control of carbon morphology and purification. This project will extend beyond current Best Available Techniques (BAT) in the valorisation of food waste of anaerobic digestion (AD) to generate renewable energy; it will transform the biogas output from AD using an innovative low energy microwave plasma to split biogas methane into high value graphitic carbon and renewable hydrogen (RH2). The quality and economic value of the carbon and the hydrogen will then be maximised through the integration of high quality research and industrial process engineering expertise. The project will validate at a pilot scale continuous operation of the integrated process for a period of one month; 150 tonnes of mixed food waste will be digested to generate over 25,000m3 of biogas. 2,400m3 of this biogas will then be transformed into highly graphitic carbon with a market value of over €2,500/tonne and RH2. A decentralised business model will be generated that can be implemented at local levels widely across Europe to facilitate future market uptake.
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/185458_en.html
DarkMatterDarkEnergy
Understanding the Dark Universe with 3D Weak Gravitational Lensing
Durham
Climate and environment
Understanding the twin cosmological puzzles of dark matter and dark energy remains the most fundamental challenge in modern cosmology. Almost the entire contents of the universe consist of dark matter or dark energy, but they are invisible and almost nothing is known about them. They are most effectively probed via the gravitational deflection of light from distant galaxies, a process known as "gravitational lensing". This is a purely geometrical effect, which is uniquely clean of astrophysical assumptions. Several dedicated gravitational lensing experiements have recently begun throughout Europe, to exploit rapid developments in telescope technology on the ground and in space. These include the VST/KIDS and Pan-Starrs surveys, as well as ESA's proposed DUNE satellite. However, measurements of gravitational lensing require the extraction of a very subtle signal, and the exploitation of such data has reached a systematic floor due to limitations in data analysis techniques. A great deal of preparation is urgently needed before the scientific potential of these funded surveys can be fully exploited. My recent work in America generated the largest ever survey from the Hubble Space Telescope. Through that experience, I have built a unique toolset that can help tap Europe's new data. I have also been deeply involved in the development of proposed American satellites SNAP and GRALE, which have very similar goals to DUNE. As a member of scientific teams on both sides of the Atlantic, I will be able to foster closer links between these complementary efforts, as well as helping to advance the project in Europe. I plan to be based at the university of Edinburgh, a centre of excellence for gravitational lensing observations, and the only institute that is a member of all three major projects. With this timely confluence of new data and analysis techniques, I would expect to make a major contribution to Europe's leadership in understanding the dark universe
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/90643_en.html
Former Swan Hunter Site Low Carbon Enterprise Zone
Wallsend, Tyne and Wear
Redevelopment
The former shipyard site in Wallsend is being transformed to allow critical initial momentum to stimulate private sector investment. The European Regional Development Fund ensures that enabling works are carried out, including: quay edge repairs and strengthening; dredging of quay edge to allow larger vessel access; improved highway infrastructure and utility provision to the site.
The transformation will change the face of the river from that associated with the traditional industries to a key location for modern, high-technology offshore and marine renewable companies. By bringing the important site back into use, sustainable high value jobs will be created and safeguarded. This will have a positive impact on supply chain businesses and also enhance the area’s reputation for delivering high quality manufacturing through a highly skilled workforce.
http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/news/local/former-shipyard-future-is-secured-1-5533527
