MICROGEN · Anaerobic microbiological oxidation underpinning sustainable energy generation (MicroGen)
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2006-12-01 → 2010-11-30
- EU contribution
- €996,059
- Participants
- 4
- Scheme
- TOK
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - MICROGEN (Anaerobic microbiological oxidation underpinning sustainable energy generation (MicroGen))
The objective of the MICROGEN project was to build a strong research capability at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) for the study of anaerobic microbiological conversions for sustainable energy generation. The Microbial Bioenergy Group is an active multidisciplinary research centre with an international reputation for its work in studies of anaerobic digestion microbiology, bioreactor technology, biological hydrogen production and electrochemistry. This project transferred new expertise to the group, which addressed a deficit in frontline analytical techniques and in computational modelling. This new capability has allowed the group to determine the in-situ microbial activity and process chemistry in intensively monitored reactors and biocatalytic and microbial fuel cells. The transfer of knowledge was implemented by a 48-month project, which recruited four Experienced (ER) and three More Experienced (MER) researchers to NUI Galway. The recruited researchers worked closely with existing core staff and trainee researchers based in Galway and were fully integrated into existing and developing research programmes. The project contributed to the training of >60 under- and postgraduate students through summer schools, seminars and workshops. Scientific highlights of the project include the development of low-temperature anaerobic digestion technology for bioenergy production from wastewater and a prototype novel biocatalytic fuel cell. The dissemination outputs of the project include 9 peer-reviewed papers in leading international journals and 14 presentations at high-level international conferences.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The objective of this project is to build a strong research capability at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway for the study of anaerobic microbiological conversions for sustainable energy generation. There is an urgent requirement for the EU to develop sustainable energy sources, to comply with economic, environmental and strategic imperatives, including a growing energy demand, the requirement for secure energy supplies and the critical need to address pollution and climate change issues.The host institute is an active multidisciplinary research centre with an international reputation for its work in studies of anaerobic digestion microbiology, bioreactor technology, biological hydrogen production and electrochemistry. To maximise the technological benefits of the research being carried out in Galway, an expertise deficit in frontline analytical techniques and in computational modelling, which allow determination of in situ microbial activity and process chemistry and which can be applied to intensively monitored reactors/fuel cells, must be addressed.The transfer of such expertise from leading institutes will allow this multi-disciplinary research field (microbiology; bioprocess technology; micro-analytics) to be developed to its full potential. The ToK will be implemented by seconding 3 existing core personnel from Galway to 3 world-class partner institutions for high-level training, and by recruiting experienced researchers to NUI, Galway. The recruited researchers will work closely with existing core staff and trainee researchers based in Galway and will be fully integrated into existing and developing research programmes, in order to effect a successful knowledge transfer.The innovative, multidisciplinary and pan-European nature of this proposal strongly reflects the ethos and objectives of the ToK action, and will develop and significantly enhance the capability of the host institute, which is located in a less-favoured region of the EU.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, GALWAY · GALWAYCoordinatorIreland
- MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR MARINE MICROBIOLOGY (MICROSENSOR GROUP) · BREMENCity levelGermany
- UNVERSITY OF MINHO, PORTUGAL · BRAGACity levelPortugal
- WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY, THE NETHERLANDS (DEPT. OF AGROTECHNOLOGY AND FOOD SCIENCE) · WAGENINGENCity levelNetherlands
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union