Driven by political as well as environmental goals and facilitated by technological advances, the use of renewable energies has steadily increased over the past years. The French government aims at up to 113 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2028 - more than double com-pared to 2017. Also, the German government has set out in its current coalition agreement a tar-get share of at least 65% of electric renewable generation by 2030. Though the transition to a low-carbon future is highly desirable, it has tremendous implications for the operation of future power systems. In particular, in alternating current (AC) systems the replacement of synchronous generators with inverter-interfaced devices results in a significant reduction of the available system inertia and can lead to much faster frequency dynamics in the grid. Such inverter-dominated power systems are called low-inertia systems. In order to secure an affordable, efficient and sustainable operation in such systems, novel methodical, robust and flexible control solutions are needed. Motivated by this, the project SyNPiD is devoted to the development of a methodical framework for global analysis and control design in nonlinear dynamical systems, which are periodic in a part of the state coordinates. The latter is an intrinsic property of AC pow-er systems and, due to the periodicity, also leads to the existence of multiple equilibria. By building upon extensive previous joint work of both partners, a unique feature of the proposed re-search methodology is that it explicitly exploits the inherent periodicity of the power system dynamics in order to relax the usual requirements of standard stability analysis and control design methods, such as definiteness of Lyapunov functions, which typically hamper the establishment of global properties for AC power systems. Special emphasis will be given to the stability analysis and controller design for self-synchronizing mechanisms. For an interconnected system self-synchronization means that synchronization occurs without any artificially introduced external signal nor action. The obtained results will form a bridge between innovative theoretical concepts for control synthesis and an important application domain dealing with sustainable and green future energy systems, which are at the core of many European and national scientific initiatives. The consortium is composed by the Chair of Control Systems and Network Control Technology at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), Germany, and Valse team of Inria, France, which have a clear complementarity demonstrated by a long-standing, successful collaboration on the project’s subjects. The outcomes of the project exhibit high transfer potential, whose realization, together with the scientific excellence of the obtained results, are the main goals of SyNPiD.

The global transition to renewable energy sources presents significant challenges for the operation of future climate-neutral power systems, particularly in alternating current (AC) systems. A major structural change is the replacement of conventional synchronous generators with inverter-interfaced devices at various voltage levels. This leads to much faster frequency dynamics in the grid. Such inverter-dominated power systems are therefore termed low-inertia power systems. To ensure the affordable, efficient and sustainable operation of future low-inertia systems, there is a critical need for novel and flexible analysis and control solutions. Given their highly disruptive nature, it is impossible to successfully handle these changes exclusively via numerical simulations, nor purely local analysis and synthesis approaches based on linearization of the system dynamics. Instead, new advanced formal methods and techniques suitable for analyzing and designing global properties in power systems are needed. Since AC power systems inherently exhibit periodic behavior, resulting in the existence of multiple equilibria, their global analysis and synthesis are very challenging. To meet this challenge, our research approach is guided by the observation that by exploiting the system’s periodicity, it is possible to relax the usual definiteness requirements of Lyapunov theory while still rigorously guaranteeing stability and robustness properties. By using this property, the partners have jointly developed the Leonov function framework, which specifically addresses the periodic nature of power system dynamics. Inspired by recent advances in deep learning and physics-inspired neural networks (PINNs), the main goals of SyNNuM are geared towards the next development steps in the Leonov framework, namely the derivation of numerical methods to efficiently construct Leonov and Control Leonov functions. In addition, we aim to further relax the requirements of stability analysis and control design via the Leonov method. The outcomes will serve as a link between cutting-edge theoretical advances for control synthesis and a significant application area pertaining to climate-neutral future energy systems, which are at the center of numerous national and European research projects. To this end, we will also experimentally demonstrate the potential of the derived new methods on a Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop setup for low-inertia power systems. The consortium, comprising the Chair of Control Systems and Network Control Technology at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), Germany, and the Valse team of Inria, France, combines complementary expertise and aims to realize the high transfer potential of the project outcomes while achieving scientific excellence. This has already been demonstrated by a long-standing, successful collaboration on the project’s subjects.

The aim of this project is to develop and implement a novel and energy efficient tertiary treatment technology enabling reuse of treated urban wastewater (UWW) in agricultural irrigation. The project also addresses issues related to safe food production, e.g. cross-contamination and genetic mutation. As a first step the new photocatalytic treatment reactors will be developed using on-site energy resources (solar and UV). Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) and electrodialysis (ED) desalination processes will be integrated to well-studied photocatalytic treatment to design a new photocatalytic electrodialysis (PCED) reactor. The novelty of this new approach is that integration of photoactive photoanode electrode with a membrane stacking to water treatment units for production of clean, inherently nutrient rich irrigation water and hydrogen from treated UWW has not been studied previously. Efficient treatment-disinfection and desalination are expected by this new energy free PCED reactor system. PCED is further modified with a photoactive membrane to allow the cogeneration of clean water and hydrogen (H2-PCED) put into practice from a single source of energy and wastewater. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) will be integrated with solar energy to define efficient water treatment configuration(s) to be applied for irrigation of land and hydroponic greenhouse crops. Health risk assessments of solar wastewater reuse system(s) will be conducted by monitoring emerging pollutants, microbial indicators in agri-food and any ecotoxic/genotoxic impacts in water, soil and crops._x000D_ _x000D_ This project will be coordinated by Istanbul University (IU) with the partnerships of University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas - Solar Platform of Almería (CIEMAT-PSA), Brandenburg University of Technology (BUT) and MIR Research&Development Inc. (MIR)._x000D_

Biomass is the primary energy source in African countries, used mostly as wood fuel and charcoal for home cooking, lighting and heating. Liquid fuels (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, and straight vegetable oil) account for a small share of total energy supplies, but have been used for almost three dec-ades, and production is increasing. Biofuels offer the prospect of increased employment, a new cash crop for farmers, reduced fuel import costs, and increased foreign exchange earnings. Rapid increase in the biofuels’ global demand over the next decade or more will provide opportunities for African exporters, as neither the EU nor the US are expected to be able to meet their consumption completely from domestic production. African countries are well placed to benefit from the in-creased biofuels demand, as many have large areas of land suitable for producing biofuels, as well as abundant labour. The domestic biofuels market is also expected to be attractive in many African countries due to high fuel prices and rapid demand growth, and offers better opportunities for smallholder participation in producing biofuel crops. Biomass pyrolysis is a thermal process con-verting solid biomass, in absence of air/oxygen, at elevated temperatures, into a gaseous stream, a liquid stream (biooil) and a solid product (biochar). Although subject to significant research in the recent years, the biofuels production from biomass pyrolysis is not yet fully developed with respect to its commercial applications. PyroBioFuel aims, thus, to create a unique knowledge infrastructure that supports decentralised, sustainable, and cost-efficient conversion of biomass to sustainable fuels, and is relevant to both Europe and Africa. The consortium involves five partners from Africa (Egypt, Morocco, South Africa) and Europe (Germany, France). The project targets development of new technologies that overcome technological barriers, increase process efficiency, and reduce marginal costs in the biomass to fuel conversion process. The proposed project focuses on the sustainable biomass waste conversion into useful liquid fuels and biochar through pyrolysis. The biomass feedstock varies according to participating countries and season, ranging from virgin biomass, waste biomass and energy crops, e.g., agricultural waste, sugarcane bagasse, corn stover, wheat husks, wood wastes, rice straws, sawmill, paper mill dis-cards, etc. Fast pyrolysis optimisation, development of processes to convert pyrolysis’ products to fuels, and model-based decision-making tools to support process development and performance validation are representing the main objectives of the proposal. This will be achieved through robust pyrolysis technologies delivering constant product quality, and unique catalytic units based on integrated Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) and hydrocracking reactor (HCR) microreactors (MCRs) that can be flexibly implemented for compact and efficient biofuel processing. Process modelling will be per-formed to fully understand the chemical kinetics, flow dynamics along with heat and mass transfer throughout the process. This will be followed by process optimisation and integration to achieve the highest process efficiency. Profitability of the integrated process will be assessed, and the envi-ronmental impact will be evaluated. The programme involves 5 working packages (WPs) integrated together to enhance the biomass to fuel conversion pathway using novel conversion technologies and innovative digital tools. They include pyrolysis and pyrolysis product conditioning, upgrading and valorisation of pyrolysis prod-ucts, mathematical modelling, optimisation, and analysis of the pyrolysis to fuel conversion pro-cess, techno-economic and environmental (LCA) studies, and a validation demonstrator.

Agricultural intensification contributes to global food security and health by supplying the food demand of a growing human population, but also causes environmental problems. Ecological intensification has been proposed as viable alternative to achieve a balance between negative environmental issues, such as the ongoing loss of biodiversity, and sufficiently high and qualitative food production. Ecological intensification focuses on promoting biodiversity and key natural regulatory processes, such as pest control or pollination, that support crop health and human society (“ecosystem services”) while reducing negative environmental impacts. Organic agriculture and managed permanent grasslands are two popular elements of future ecological intensification strategies with high potential for these benefits. The functional diversity of biotic communities, as the functional traits of species in local communities, is an understudied dimension of biodiversity which may be particularly relevant for links between ecological intensification, diversity, ecosystem services and human food and livestock fodder production. The joint synthesis of existing databases on these aspects in organic agriculture and permanent grasslands in Europe will provide a significant contribution to the evidence base for such links across different climatic regions and a range of landscapes. Four meetings are planned to link existing databases on species composition of animal communities with databases on functional traits (meeting 1), to then analyse the effect of ecological intensification practises on functional diversity metrics (meeting 2, synthesis paper 1) and to then develop models that link functional diversity to pollination and pest control services and crop plant health (meeting 3, synthesis paper 2). At the final meeting (meeting 4) these results will be linked to information on human health effects of organic agricultural products and yields (synthesis paper 3) and to develop a final set of dissemination products (e.g. BiodivERsA policy brief and farmer magazine article) for target audiences (e.g. regional policy makers and farmer associations). This project will provide key operational knowledge for policy makers to guide the implementation of ecological intensification throughout Europe while preserving a competitive and healthy food production sector. Society demands more sustainable agricultural production to mitigate negative environmental impact while still producing sufficient quantity and high quality food. Given the upcoming Common Agricultural Policy (CAP2020) reform across the EU member states and the major future challenges highlighted by the FAO, it is evident that a better understanding of land-use effects on functional diversity and the resulting consequences for ecosystem services, plant and human health is crucial for successful ecological intensification.