PVSITES: Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Technologies and Systems for Large-Scale Market Deployment

The large potential for energy savings in buildings led the EU Commission to adopt the 2010/31/EU Directive on the energy performance of buildings with the objective that all new buildings are Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) by 2020. Renewable energy technologies, and in particular the integration of photovoltaic systems in the building environment offer many possibilities to play a key role within the NZEB scenario. The objective of PVSITES project is to drive BIPV technology to a large market deployment by demonstrating an ambitious portfolio of building-integrated solar technologies and systems, giving a forceful, reliable answer to the market requirements identified by the industrial members of the consortium in their day-to-day activity.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 691768

Smart grid futures: Perspectives on the integration of energy and ICT services

The entire electricity infrastructure and associated socio-technical system including transmission and distribution networks, the system operator, suppliers, generators, consumers and market mechanisms will need to evolve to realize the full potential of smart-grids. At the heart of this evolution is the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) and energy infrastructures for increasingly decentralized development, monitoring and management of a resilient grid. This paper identifies the challenges of integration and four key areas of future research and development at the intersection of energy and ICT: standards-based interoperability, reliability and security, decentralized and self-organizing grid architecture, and innovative business models to unlock the potential of the energy value chain. The ideas postulated here are envisaged to act as a starting-point for future R&D direction

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

INNOQUA: Innovative Ecological On-Site Sanitation System for Water and Resource Savings

INNOQUA, an EU-funded project through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme launched in June 2016, aims to meet this challenge by promoting sustainable water sanitation technologies capable of performing a whole water treatment cycle

Unlocking European Grid Local Flexibility Through Augmented Energy Conversion Capabilities at District Level

Pentagon is research and innovation project that investigate the potential of wider deployment of energy conversion technologies and strategies at district-level, with the aim to foster flexibility in the low-voltage and medium-voltage grid. Multi-vector smart districts can be the key enablers of future smart grids, provided their flexibility capabilities are augmented with adequate energy conversion technologies. Object of the research are two key technologies: a highly efficient power-to-gas installation sized for coupling with typical district heating plants and a multi-vector multi-scale district energy management platform for the combined monitoring and management of all district energy carriers

Re-Naturing the City: Nature4Cities Project to Elevate the Concept of Nature-Based Solutions

Nature-based solutions are positive responses to societal challenges, and can have the potential to simultaneously meet environmental, social and economic objectives. The EU research project Nature4Cities aims to deliver an online platform where all stakeholders, such as citizens, urban planners, experts and policymakers are encouraged to discover, discuss and rank nature-based solutions