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Grant Proposals
An award-winning business and technical writer, Linda Christie researches and writes R&D grant proposals for research institutes and small- and medium-sized enterprises. She's raised over 2 million dollars internationally in the last two years.
· Assists with state-of-the-art and marketing literature research.
· Extensive technology expertise, Web research, marketing communications and training background.
· Author of 12 business and technical books including "The Entrepreneur's Guide to Doing Business with the Federal Government," Prentice Hall.
· Teaches "How to Write Effective Grant Proposals" for Metropolitan Community College, Omaha.
Linda Christie researched and wrote four grant proposal for Pro Support, a Netherlands-based firm that assists innovative companies with their R&D efforts--in particular with obtaining funding. Pro Support focuses on European CRAFT-projects aimed at Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). In addition she's written six preparatory awards submitted to the UK. Most recently she completed a CRAFT proposal for EuroParama in Lithuania.
Following are excerpts from CRAFT grant proposals each of which received 1 Million Euro:
MORES: Remote Monitoring for Renewable Energy Systems
ABSORB: Novel Absorbent for Oil Tank Cleaning, Wastewater and Vapour Clean-Up
MORES: Remote Monitoring for Renewable Energy Systems
1 Scientific/Technological quality and innovation
1.1 Main project objectives
1.1.1 Need and issues
Accelerating the adoption of Renewable Energy Systems can significantly impact the diversity, security and self-sufficiency of the EU energy supply, as well as play a leading role in mitigating the detrimental environmental effects of using fossil fuels. However, high investment costs and the perceived unreliability of small-scale Renewable Energy Systems (RES) by the general public, decision makers, investors, insurers, and legislative bodies are impeding the growth of this vital industry.
Small-scale renewable energy systems, though, are complex. So researching and testing innovative designs and cost-effective management strategies requires the ability to rapidly and accurately acquire, analyse, and retrieve field performance and environmental information that can be used to document current status, simulate future performance of components and interdependent sub-systems, report maintenance problems, and project and evaluate trends.
Unfortunately, gathering this data is often neglected because it cannot be obtained easily or economically. While data acquisition and control systems (SCADA) are commonly available for large-scale power plants, they are far too expensive and complex to use with small-scale RES installations. In addition, the remote nature of RES installations—e.g. offshore wind turbines and desert-based PV—makes collecting data manually a challenge. So consequently, small-scale RES designers and manufacturers rarely obtain adequate field performance information to test new designs and innovative materials that could improve performance, increase quality, and lower prices—thus denying them the competitive advantage SMEs need for expansion and growth.
Fortunately, there are state-of-the-art, affordable remote monitoring, information technology and data management components that can address these problems. However, research and development is required to adapt them to the unique requirements of the small-scale RES environment. To solve this problem, the MORES project is developing novel, intelligent, low-cost remote sensing/monitoring plug-and-play RES field testing packages for collecting, communicating, analyzing, and reporting field performance and environmental data--for photovoltaic, wind, and small hydro power systems. By combining the capabilities of today’s powerful PCs with world-wide Internet connectivity for reporting data, MORES is developing the perfect affordable information technology platform to address these issues.
The insights gained from analysing real-world field test data will equip RES manufacturers and R&D centres with the intelligence they need to introduce durable and economical small-scale RES systems. The potential payoffs of this research include improved confidence in the bases for planning and design decisions, as well as enhanced reliability and operating efficiencies. Operational costs will also be reduced since remote performance monitoring will allow just-in-time maintenance strategies to be implemented, reducing the need for labour-intensive scheduled inspections at remote locations.
MORES is allowing SME proposers to develop and market low-cost remote sensing/monitoring plug-and-play RES field testing packages that are currently not available—thus expanding the scope of the proposers’ current markets in this rapidly growing energy sector and furthering the EC’s proposed objective to double the contribution of renewable energy in Europe by 2010, to 12 percent of gross inland consumption.
The planned exploitation and dissemination of the results to other SMEs in the EC will improve their profitability. In addition, success of MORES will lead to substantial improvement of the technical and economical competitiveness and profitability of participating SMEs.
1.1.2 Industrial, economical and social objectives
The main objective of the MORES project is to develop and test novel, intelligent, low-cost remote sensing/monitoring plug-and-play RES field testing packages for collecting, communicating, analyzing, and reporting field performance and environmental data (photovoltaic, wind, and small hydro)--automated systems that provide the environmental, performance and reliability information needed for improving the quality, efficiency, and marketability of each type of small-scale RES systems.
The main industrial and economical objectives for the MORES project are to:
· Improve the quality, efficiency, and marketability of small-scale Renewable Energy Systems;
· Demonstrate to decision makers and consumers that renewable energy systems will save money in the long run (performance and maintenance data), thus increasing sales, lowering manufacturing costs (as volume increases), and lowering pollution from the burning of fossil fuels;
· Convince politicians to support favourable legislation and tax breaks that will further boost sales and reduce pressures on utility companies trying to keep up with growing demands for electricity;
· Attract investors that will back an industry that’s largely driven by SMEs that design, manufacture, and distribute renewable energy systems, thus increasing jobs in data acquisition systems, engineering design, manufacturing, and data analysis as well as distribution, marketing, sales and service.
The most important social objectives are to:
· Mitigate the environmental effects from the emissions of greenhouse gasses and local pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels, achieving a 15% reduction by the year 2010 from the 1990 level;
· Improve the diversity, self-sufficiency and security of EU energy supplies, especially with respect to the dependence on imported energy which is now at 50% and expected to rise to 70% by 2020 if no action is taken;
· Reduce the pressures on governments (taxpayers) and utility companies to provide enough electricity to meet future demands;
· Reduce the cost of energy and dependence on utilities for consumers;
· Enhance the quality of life for people in undeveloped countries by providing access to equipment such at radio/TV, electrical appliances, etc. In addition, possible benefits are reducing the destruction of rain forests and saving threatened species.
1.1.3 Time to market
The project duration is 24 months. The participating SMEs anticipate working together for a period of another 6-12 months after a successful closure of the project to commercialise remote sensing/monitoring technology for Renewable Energy Systems. Success of the project will lead to substantial improvement of the technical and economical competitiveness of the participating SMEs.
1.1.4 Compliance with thematic programme
This project is in conformity with the general scope and objectives of thematic priorities. The industrial, economical, ecological and social purposes of this project fulfils the thematic programmes objectives for SMEs, specified in the scope and objective EESD-5.3.1 (‘Integrating renewable energy sources into the grid and stand-alone systems’), EESD-5.3.3 (‘Improving the acceptability of renewables’) and Information Society Technologies Programme (IST), a major theme of research and technological development within the European Union's Fifth RTD Framework Programme.
This is being achieved in MORES by developing novel, low-cost remote monitoring plug-and-play packages for each small-scale RES technology (photovoltaic, wind and small hydro) with particular emphasis on sensor instruments, an inexpensive communication network for collecting data from remote locations, and PC-based software to analyze and report the data in meaningful ways—all with the goal of improving the quality, efficiency, and marketability of small-scale RES systems.
ABSORB: Novel Absorbent for Oil Tank Cleaning, Wastewater and Vapour Clean-Up
1. Scientific/Technological quality and innovation
1.1 Main project objectives
1.1.1 Need and issues
The effects of marine oil pollution can be far reaching, posing both an environmental and economic threat. Clean drinking water, marine life, fisheries, local industry and recreational activities are among the resources that can be adversely affected by oil pollution.
The effects of oil on marine life are primarily caused by either the physical nature of the oil (physical contamination and smothering) or by its chemical components (toxic effects and accumulation leading to tainting). The main threat posed to living resources by the persistent residues of spilled oils and water-in-oil emulsions ("chocolate mousse") is one of physical smothering. The animals and plants most at risk are those that could come into contact with a contaminated water surface, like water reptiles, birds that feed by diving or form flocks on the water, marine life on shorelines, and animals and plants.[1]
Furthermore, oil contamination of water recreational areas is a common feature of many spills, leading to public disquiet and interference with bathing, boating, angling and diving. Hotel and restaurant owners, and others who gain their livelihood from the tourist trade can also be affected.
Whilst large oil spills due to oil tanker accidents get the most attention and cause much public concern, their total contribution to marine oil pollution is relatively low relative to other sources. According to statistics provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, between 1973-1999, the most pollution comes from small spills and oily wastewater: 3.6% from pipelines; 24.4% from facilities operations, such as oily wastewater from cleaning oil tanks on ships, barges, trucks, rail cars, etc.; 10.4% from tankers (ships/barges), 30.8% from non-tank vessels (ruptured fuel tanks/oily bilge water), and 25.6% were “mystery spills.” [2]
The main pathways from onshore sources to the marine environment include atmospheric dispersion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); storm sewers and sewage treatment works; and rivers. Volatile organic chemicals (VOC's) are photo oxidising substances which, in high concentrations in the air, promote the formation of troposphere ozone and summer smog. VOC's include pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals that are often toxic and pose great health risks such as cancer; kidney, liver and brain damage; damage to the nervous, reproductive and immune systems.
The need is for an effective oily wastewater and VOC clean-up technology is clear. Current tank cleaning operations use solvents, water, and detergents. The resulting oily wastewater needs to be collected, treated, and/or disposed of off-site, all of which are expensive. This project is proposed to develop a system for cleaning oil containers with an absorbent made from rubber. When especially treated, rubber becomes a powerful absorbent, capable of absorbing up to 20 times its own volume. Two variants will be developed, both having a chemically comparable structure:
1. Prevulcanised latex: When especially treated, prevulcanised latex is a powerful absorbent. The latex (which looks like “milk”) can be sprayed on tank walls, but also used to clean other contaminated surfaces such as rocks.
2. Solid Rubber: When partly vulcanised, rubber is capable of absorbing hydrocarbons (both liquids and vapours). It can be applied as sheets or beads to absorb oil slicks and tank sludge.
The issues to investigate include optimising the prevulcanised latex and rubber, research and development of a cleaning and recycling system, as well as laboratory and field evaluations.
SME survival threatened by stronger regulations
Unfortunately, sophisticated oily wastewater treatment plants and VOC reduction technologies are too expensive or complicated for most tank cleaning SMEs to use and maintain. Consequently, many SMEs risk being assessed huge fines for discharging untreated wastewater or going out of business as the costs for complying with new more stringent regulations exceeded their resources.
ABSORB is allowing SME proposers to develop and market a low-cost and user-friendly rubber absorbent technology for (i) removing oil (hydrocarbons) from internal storage tank surfaces, (ii) removing sludge from the bottom of storage and wastewater treatment tanks, (iii) removing oil and organic cleaning solvents from washwater, (iv) filtering VOC emissions from vented air, and (v) recovering collected hydrocarbons for recycling—thus expanding the scope of the proposers’ current markets in this rapidly growing environmental protection sector and furthering the EC’s proposed objectives to reduce oily wastewater and VOC emissions.
To accomplish these ambitious goals, ABSORB will design, manufacture and test prevulcanised latex rubber (liquid) and vulcanised (solid) absorbent pollution control products tailored to meet the specific needs of tank cleaning facilities. Additional issues that need investigating include optimising the prevulcanised and vulcanised latex; research and development of cleaning systems and processes; research and development of hydrocarbon recovery systems for recycling, as well as laboratory and field evaluations.
1.1.2 Industrial, economical and social objectives
The main objective of the ABSORB project is to develop and test novel latex rubber absorbent technology for (i) removing oil (hydrocarbons) from internal storage tank surfaces, (ii) removing sludge from the bottom of storage and wastewater treatment tanks, (iii) removing oil and organic cleaning solvents from washwater, (iv) filtering VOC emissions from vented air, and (v) recovering collected hydrocarbons for recycling—low-cost and user friendly systems that will enable SME tank cleaning facilities to comply with more stringent regulations requiring them to reduce oily wastewater and VOC emissions.
The main industrial and economic objectives for the ABSORB project are to:
· Improve the quality, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness and marketability of small-scale oily wastewater treatment and VOC emissions filtering systems so small SMEs tank cleaning facilities can comply with more stringent pollution regulations.
· Reduce the cost of pollution control for SME tank cleaning facilities so they can comply with more stringent pollution regulations and remain in business.
· Significantly reduce the use of detergents and toxic solvents, the generation of oily wastewater by tank cleaning operations, and the need for off-site disposal by directly absorbing oil into powerful and environmentally-friendly prevulcanised latex rubber capable of absorbing up to 20 times its own volume.
· Demonstrate to tank cleaning SMEs that sorbent pollution technology will not only reduce their costs for complying with pollution regulations, but also will generate revenue through hydrocarbon recovery and recycling.
· Reduce the pressures on local public works (and tax payers) to remove oily pollutants from drinking water supplies, urban waste water treatment systems (WWTS), and sewage sludge.
The most important social objectives are:
· Mitigate the environmental effects from the uncontrolled emissions of VOCs and local pollution of the air and ground water from the discharge of untreated or inadequately treated oily wastewater discharge from tank cleaning facilities.
· Enhance the quality of life for local residents and tank cleaning facility workers by reducing VOC emissions that produce foul odours, contribute to summer smog, threaten health and contaminate drinking water supplies.
1.1.3 Time to market
The SMEs anticipate to work further together to commercialise this rubber latex absorbent technology for a period of another 1-1.5 years after a successful closure of the project before the technology is ready for market introduction. Success of the project will lead to substantial improvement of the technical and economical competitiveness of the participating SME’s.
Compliance with thematic priorities
This project is in conformity with the general scope and objectives of thematic priorities. The industrial, economical, ecological and social purposes of this project fulfils the thematic programmes objectives, specified in the scope and objectives of GROW-1.3.3: Product recovery and waste recycling: to improve in-situ and on-line recovery of waste including development of novel processes for treatment, re-utilisation and safe disposal of waste.
In addition, ABSORB project goals are consistent with the general objectives of the Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration under the Fifth Framework Programme are to develop technologies to prevent and treat pollution of water, to purify water and to use and/or re-use water rationally and to enhance efficient water supply and treatment of waste water and prevent potential health effects—including “innovative co-treatment techniques for liquid and solid wastes, compact, environment-friendly and cost-effective treatment plants for specific effluents, improved management, treatment and reduction of bio-solids and sludge.” [3]
The programme recognises the importance of pollution prevention in the overall scheme: “The general objectives are to develop comprehensive approaches to prevent pollution of water bodies, to assess and minimise pollution originating from contaminated sites, waste disposal sites and sediments as well as to prevent or reduce diffuse pollution originating from land-use practices.”
Anticipated deliverables include novel in-situ and on-site cost-efficient remediation techniques—techniques such as the innovative sorbent technology that the ABSORB project proposes to develop for the purification of oily wastewater generated during oil tank cleaning operations.
In addition to water quality, the Fifth Framework Programme is concerned with the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and ozone depletion. The targets are to provide solutions and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and concentrations—emissions such as the VOCs generated during tank cleaning operations--and to reduce the use of ozone depleting substances, such as the organic solvents used to dissolve oily residues and sludge from oil tank surfaces.
A third concern of the Fifth Framework Programme is the reduction in the rate of marine biodiversity loss, with one of the targets being to develop methods for combating biodiversity loss--reducing the anthropogenic impact on biodiversity and the sustainable functioning of marine ecosystems. The aim is to reduce the impact of human activity upon the biodiversity and sustainable functioning of marine ecosystems, and to develop the technologies required to enable safe, economic and sustainable exploitation of marine resources—for example, technologies that reduce the oily pollution that threatens the very survival of marine plants and animals.
The justification for developing a user friendly, cost effective oily wastewater and VOC clean-up and recycling technology for SME tank cleaning facilities is clear.