6 new projects to receive fast track instrument
The fast track instrument from SDU Climate Cluster is given to free research ideas and hypotheses, as well as to establish pilot projects that can later form the basis for larger external research applications.
The fast track instrument is intended to be a testing ground for new interdisciplinary research collaborations at SDU that support SCC's mission to contribute to climate neutrality by 2050.
Here are the latest six projects that have received funding. Each project receives approximately 100,000 DKK, and now, portions have been distributed again.
Drones for cleaning wind turbine blades
Cleaning the blades constitutes a significant portion of the maintenance budget for wind turbine operators. Drones are already being used today as an alternative to manual cleaning, but each drone flight still requires significant concentration and involvement of more people. The goal of this project is to enable individual drone operators to control two or more drones simultaneously for blade cleaning, thereby reducing the costs associated with wind energy.
Project name: Cooperative drones for cleaning of wind turbine blades.
Researchers: Anders Lyhne Christensen and Norbert Krüger, the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, TEK. Rocio Chongtay, Department of Language, Culture, History and Communication, HUM. Jerome Jouffroy, Department of Mechanics and Electronics, TEK.
How can we learn from frontrunner municipalities on climate adaptation across the Danish-German border region?
Some municipalities have been quick and successful in implementing climate adaptation solutions, and others can learn from them. This project aims to develop a screening tool to identify first mover municipalities in the Danish-German border region, so they can serve as role models and contribute to better and faster climate adaptation in Danish and German municipalities.
Project name: Climate adaptation across borders: Developing a screening tool for first-mover municipalities.
Researchers: Emma Perriton, Department of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management, SAMF. Mads Bruun Ingstrup, Department of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management, SAMF. Cintia Organo Quintana, Elite Centre of Aquatic Nature-based Solutions, Department of Biology, NAT.
Can we save (more) energy in research laboratories?
Research laboratories consume a significant amount of electricity - often much more than other facilities on a university campus. This is due to their energy-intensive equipment, 24 hour operation, and the need for frequent ventilation, etc. This project aims to involve laboratory managers from SDU Sønderborg in workshops with the goal of reducing energy consumption.
Project name: COLABS: Co-design for laboratory energy savings.
Researchers: Kerstin Fischer, the Department of Media, Design, Education and Cognition, HUM. Horst-Günter Rubahn, Mads Clausen Institute, TEK.
How do we reduce the emissions of nitrous oxide from wastewater treatment plants?
Clean water is not all that comes out of wastewater treatment plants: a significant amount of nitrous oxide is also formed during the biological processes that cleans the water. Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, and therefore, this team of researchers would like to gain a better understanding of the factors triggering the formation of nitrous oxide. The goal is to reduce the emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
Project Name: Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from wastewater treatment plants.
Researchers: Birgitte Lilholt Sørensen, Department of Green Technology, TEK. Alexander Treusch, Department of Biology, NAT.
More focus on taste when producing climate-friendly food
Plant-based foods instead of meat are good for the climate, but they don't always taste as good. In fact, they often have a bitter taste and lack sweetness and umami. The researchers behind this project believe this problem needs to be taken seriously. The same goes for the food producers' challenge of raising capital for the development work involved in finding climate-friendly foods that consumers want to buy.
Project Name: Food system transition towards a "climate diet" – Taste as a driver for change.
Researchers: Jochen Theis, Department of Business and Management, SAMF. Kristin Munksgaard, SDU Business School, SAMF. Mathias Porsmose Clausen, Department of Green Technology, TEK.
Do we scrap cooling compressors too quickly?
Without cooling compressors, there would be no refrigerators, freezers, etc. In Denmark, we throw out 300.000 big and small cooling devices, adding up to enormous amounts in the scrapyards. However, scrapped cooling compressors are not always so worn out that they cannot be reused. This is the experience of the researchers behind this project and therefore, they would like to develop a standardized method for assessing the potential for reuse of cooling compressors and also conduct a market analysis.
Project Name: Circling up the waste processing hierarchy: a technical and market analysis in the sustainable reuse of End-of-Life cooling compressors.
Researchers: Erik Skov Madsen, Department of Technology and Innovation, TEK. Julie Emontspool, Department of Business and Management, SAMF.