CompBat will focus on developing tools for discovery of new prospective candidates for next generation flow batteries, based on machine learning assisted high-throughput screening. Density functional theory calculations will be used to obtain data on solubilities and redox potentials of different molecules, and machine learning methods are used to develop high-throughput screening tools based on the obtained data. The results of the high-throughput screening are validated with experimental results. Target molecules will be bio-inspired organic compounds, as well as derivatives of the redox active specialty chemical already manufactured in bulk quantities. Stability and reversibility of the molecules will also be investigated by DFT calculation, experimental investigations and machine learning methods, for a selected group of interesting molecules. Numerical modelling of flow battery systems will be performed with finite element method, and with more general zero-dimensional models based on mass-transfer coefficients. The models will be verified experimentally, and the modelling will generate a data-set to allow prediction of the flow battery cell performance based on properties of the prospective candidates obtained from high-throughput screening. This data is used then to predict the flow battery system performance from the stack level modelling. Freely available cost estimation tools are then adapted to estimate the system performance also in terms of cost. This approach will allow prediction of the battery performance from molecular structure to cost. Furthermore, the concept of using solid boosters to enhance the battery capacity will be investigated by developing models to simulate the performance of such a systems, and validating the models experimentally with the candidates already reported in the literature.

Two trends have recently emerged in space systems and could even further strengthen in the future: small satellites, with the development of key modularisation and miniaturisation technologies, and the deployment of constellations and distributed networks of satellites. It is of primordial importance for Europe to properly analyse those trends and determine whether or not they could provide a competitive advantage for Earth Observation (EO) systems. To address those challenges, “Operational Network of Individual Observation Nodes,” (ONION) investigates the distribution of spacecraft functionalities into multiple cooperating nodes, leveraging on the emerging fractionated and federated satellite system concepts. The proposed concept provides augmentation, supplementation, and possibilities of new mission for future EO Missions (for science and commercial applications). ONION objectives: 1. Review the emerging fractionated and federated observation system concepts 2. Identify potential benefits to be obtained in light of observation needs in different Earth Observation domains 3. Identify key required technology challenges entailed by the emerging fractionated and federated satellite system concepts, to be faced in Horizon 2021-2027 4. Validate observation needs with the respective user communities to be fit for purpose in terms of scientific and commercial applications 5: To propose an overall strategy and technical guidelines to implement such concepts at Horizon 2021-2027 ONION will confirm the feasibility of the first established concepts to respond to the identified needs through use-cases. The baseline of the concept consists to supplementing current mission profiles with missing observation bands, augmenting mission lifetimes, and ultimately sharing the capabilities across multiple spacecraft platforms. ONION will enable mission designers and implementers to decide which fractionated and federated concepts will provide competitive imaging from space.

The smooth functioning of the European economy and the welfare of its citizens depends upon an ever-growing set of services and facilities that are reliant on space and ground based infrastructure. Examples include communications (radio, TV, mobile phones), navigation of aircraft and private transport via GPS, and service industries (e.g. banking). These services, however, can be adversely affected by the space weather hazards. The forecasting of space weather hazards, driven by the dynamical processes originating on the sun, is critical to the mitigation of their negative effects. This proposal brings world leading groups in the fields of space physics and systems science in order to develop an accurate and reliable forecast system for space weather. It combines their individual strengths to significantly improve the current modelling capabilities within Europe and to produce a set of forecast tools to accurately predict the occurrence and severity of space weather events. Within project PROGRESS we will develop an European tool to forecast the solar wind parameters just upstream of the Earth's magnetosphere. We will develop a comprehensive set of forecasting tools for geomagnetic indices. We will combine the most accurate data based forecast of electron fluxes at GEO with the most comprehensive physics based model of the radiation belts currently available to deliver a reliable forecast of radiation environment in the radiation belts. This project will deliver these individual forecast tools together with a unified tool that combines the forecasting tools with the prediction of the solar wind parameters at L1 to substantially increase the lead-time of space weather forecasts.

Developing low-cost energy storage systems is a central pillar for a secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supply based on renewable energies. A hybrid energy storage system (HESS) can be capable of providing multiple system services (e.g. frequency regulation or renewable balancing) at low cost and without the use of critical resources. Within HyFlow, an optimized HESS is designed consisting of a high-power vanadium redox flow battery (HP-VRFB), a supercapacitor (SC), advanced converter topologies and a highly flexible control system that allows adaptation to a variety of system environments. The system design enables modular long-term energy storage through HP-VRFB, while the SC as a power component ensures high load demands to be handled. The flexible Energy Management System (EMS) will be designed to perform high level of control and adaptability using computational analysis and hardware development. Within HyFlow, this innovative HESS is developed and validated on demonstrator-scale (5 kW scale) including sustainability analysis. The scope is to base the HP-VRFB on recycled vanadium and thereby reduce the environmental impact as well as the costs of the HESS. The consortium will build upon lab-scale and industrial application-scale experimental data to derive models and algorithms for the EMS development and the optimization of existing VRFB and SC components. An industry-scale demonstrator (300 kW scale) provides the possibility to test even the fastest grid-services like virtual inertia. Outputs of the project support the whole value-chain and life cycle of HESS by developing new materials and components and adding them together with an innovative EMS. The development of the above described HESS especially through the flexible EMS allows a plethora usage potentials to be assessed. This will lead to the grid integration of the HESS where the full potential of the flexibility can thoroughly be qualified and optimized for market requirements.

EU_FT-ICR_MS proposal aims to establish a European network of FT-ICR (Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance) mass spectrometry (MS) centers in association with a manufacturer and a SME software company. Mass spectrometry (MS) has become the most ubiquitous analytical techniques in use today, providing more information on the composition and the structure of a substance from a smaller amount of sample than any other techniques. Unlike other analytical techniques, such as NMR, which mainly rely on a unique technology, MS is characterized by the existence of a large range of mass analyzers. FT-ICR MS is the most powerful MS technique. It offers up to 100 fold higher mass resolving power and mass accuracy than any other MS technique. On the contrary to NMR community with which the FT-ICR MS shares several features, FT-ICR MS has never been involved in a European INFRA network and so will be a legitimate candidate to the Integrating Activities for Starting Communities call. The EU_FT-ICR_MS network includes 10 FT-ICR MS centers from 8 different European countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and United Kingdom) and 1 third country (Russia), a European FT-ICR MS manufacturer and 2 SMEs. It includes centers equipped with up-to-date FT-ICR MS and expertise which will cover most of the field in which FT-ICR mass spectrometry is involved: BioOrganic & BioInorganic, Cultural heritage, Glycomics, Environment, Imaging, InfraRed Spectroscopy of Ions in the Gas Phase, Lipidomics, Medicine, Petroleum & Coal Oil, Nanoparticles, Organic chemistry, Physical chemistry, Proteomics, Structural biology. The EU_FT-ICR_MS proposal contains six work-packages which cover all the aspects of the INFRAIA-02-2017 (RIA) Integrating Activities for Starting Communities (WP1 Transnational access; WP2 Training and Education; WP3 Open Data and e-Infrastructure; WP 4 Joint Research Action; WP 5 Dissemination; WP6 Consortium management).