The main aims of this co-ordination action are as follows:

·         To document the state of the art in micro-CHP systems linked to renewable energy sources

·         To co-ordinate current research activities in the field

·         To identify possible gaps within the state of the art and steer future research

·         To provide a database of the current research activities in the field of micro-CHP systems using RES

·         To identify suitable renewable technologies that could be linked with micro-CHP

·         To carry out technology transfer between partners within the network

·         To disseminate results of the network to targeted potential clients.

·         To ensure network cohesion and good communication between the partners

The project has ambitious goals.  A six work package structure, each with a dedicated leader, has been devised to ensure that these aims are achieved.  Each work package represents a major area of activity in the project.

The first work package, WP1, is responsible for managing the project and ensuring that all its deliverables are achieved and its milestones met.  A dedicated  work package has been assigned to this task, to reflect its importance and to provide the resources for effective co-ordination, communication and administration.  The management structure will consist of several tiers, including a steering committee over-viewing all activities of the network and a group management structure that will supervise the work performed in each specific task.

The benefits of establishing a separate work package for co-ordination are that it allows for project cohesion, motivation and co-operation between participants, and an effective means of communication. The management structure will monitor the progress of the project in achieving objectives, milestones and deliverables, and to meet EC requirements for reporting on schedule.  Information channels to be developed by the project will be: the regular meetings, a newsletter, web site, workshops, and international conferences.

Work package 2 (WP2) is the first task of the project, an elaboration of the current state of the art and market size.  The purpose of this activity is to keep the partners and the European research community informed of the latest developments in the field of renewable micro-CHP.  This will also ensure that the project’s activities can be kept relevant with the latest trends.  Major reviews of literature, patents, and the market requirements for renewable micro-CHP systems and equipment (including analysis of cost and environmental impact) will be conducted within the first six months of the network. These will be updated at six month intervals thereafter to keep the consortium abreast of the latest developments.  The searches will employ online and traditional methods, as detailed in the WP1 description forms.  The work package will culminate in a document detailing the state of the art and the current market condition for renewable micro-CHP.

Work package 3 also begins at the start of the project and will be active until the end of its second year.  The goal is to map current research activities and European Centres of Excellence.  Whilst the ongoing activities cover a broad range of issues from the point of view of developing the basic technologies for renewable micro-CHP, co-ordination of and synergies from different projects are missing; this poses a serious problem because industry cannot achieve a detailed picture of the type of problems that need to be solved, nor of the range of technological solutions that are available. The end product will be a database covering the current research activities in this field.

This work package will help form links between relevant targeted RTD actions, thematic networks, and other projects, encouraging communication between existing activities and the formation of new RTD partnerships.  This will maximise the problem-solving effort within this field of technology, and minimise overlap between national EC funded activities.

Work package 4, which will run throughout the project, is pivotal to its success.  Its goal is to co-ordinate European research activities in the field of renewable micro-CHP.  There are obvious links with the work of WP3 and close co-operation between the leaders of each work package will be essential to the success of the project.  The members of the consortium are active in many current research projects (for examples, see Appendix B of this document).  This work package will enable cross-fertilisation of ideas between these different projects, reduce the duplication of research efforts and ensure that all projects in this area achieve the maximum potential.

WP4 will also further study of renewable micro-CHP through the creation of expert groups to study ‘hot topics’ in the field.  These groups will meet several times throughout the project, to discuss the state of the art, exchange knowledge and expertise and to listen to lectures from invited guest speakers.  The deliberations from these meetings, and input from the co-ordination activities and WP3, will be used to make recommendations to the European Commission and other key funding bodies on the direction of future research in this field.

Work package 5 will begin in Month 13 and will run for eighteen months.  Recent advances both in micro-CHP technology and renewable energy systems has demonstrated the potential for combining and reducing the dependence upon fossil fuels.  The existing systems will be reviewed within WP3; however, there are still many renewable energy systems for which combination with existing micro-CHP technologies has not been considered.  The consortium consists of many experts in the field of renewable energy systems who will work closely with experts in the field of micro-CHP, to identify technologies for future research.

It is important when investigating these systems to consider both cost and efficiency in comparison with existing systems, in order to be competitive with existing micro-CHP systems, central heating systems, and electricity from the national distribution grids.  The end product of this work package will be a documented review of possible links between renewable energy systems and micro-CHP systems, with consideration of both environmental and economic factors, and future market trends.

The final work package, WP6, has the important goal of transferring cutting-edge technology from researchers to industry, and training personnel in the latest techniques through a dedicated staff exchange programme.  The assembled consortium includes a wide variety of institutions and companies, which is essential for a successful network project.  Some members have significant expertise and knowledge of micro-CHP technologies, whilst others have expertise within the field of renewable energy systems.  The aim of WP6 will be the transfer of technology, knowledge, and experience between partners to aid the development of micro-CHP as a renewable energy system.

An important exploitation route for the project will be that of technology transfer from the researchers in academia and industry to end-user industries and SMEs.  It is likely that many of the renewable energy micro-CHP concepts evaluated in the three years of this project will be of commercial interest, and this will encourage the process of technology transfer. An important part of the work package, therefore, will be the identification of potential clients and dissemination of appropriate materials.

A number of seminars and workshops will take place within the network meetings. These will provide a forum for teaching within the network so that the level of knowledge about the latest technologies can be improved. It is intended that specialists and researchers will give presentations and workshops on their individual areas of technical expertise. There will also be a dedicated programme of staff secondments, to allow personnel to share experience and benefit from each other’s know-how.  This work package will run during the last eighteen months of the project.

All of the activities to be carried out by the WP2 to WP4 are classed as co-ordination activities, as are most of the activities in WP1.  The technical and financial management activities to be carried out by the project co‑ordinator, Chalex, assisted by the work package leaders, are the only management costs incurred by the project.  The exact roles of Chalex and the WP leaders exact role is detailed further in Section B.5 and in the work package form for WP1, below.  Other partners’ contributions towards the project will be considered as co-ordination costs.  All activities in WP1 are classed as training activities.

As a co-ordination action, there are no technical risks that might prevent the successful completion of the work of this project.  The only risk foreseen by partners is that the picture obtained of the leading research players in Europe might not be entirely complete if people outside the network are not as co‑operative as is hoped.  However, this is not seen as a major risk, as it will almost certainly be possible to obtain information about a project from one of its consortium members.