EU funding will help launch a £3.5m project to pilot new
low-carbon technologies and energy-storage products, Welsh
Finance Secretary said today.
The Smart Energy Storage Solutions Hub (SESS) scheme, led by the
University of South Wales (USW), will work with businesses to
drive innovation and develop new products, technologies and
processes for the commercial market.
The hub, based at the university’s state-of-the-art Centre for
Automotive and Power Systems Engineering (CAPSE), will benefit
from £2.3m of EU funding to collaborate with businesses in
sectors such as low carbon, energy and environment, advanced
manufacturing and ICT.
The remainder of the funding will come from the university and
industrial partners involved in the project.
Professor Drakeford said:
“We are committed to driving forward cutting-edge research in the
low-carbon economy and collaboration between business and
universities will help us achieve this.
“Reducing our carbon footprint is a key priority of the Welsh
Government, helping Wales to realise its energy-efficiency
potential and to become a major exporter of energy efficiency
technology and know-how.”
Businesses will have access to the university’s specialist
research facilities and academic expertise to help develop new
products and processes, including in the automotive and energy
fields.
Professor Julie Lydon, USW vice-chancellor, said:
“USW has extensive experience of working in collaboration with a
wide range of external bodies in all sectors of the economy.
“CAPSE has an excellent reputation for expertise in the field of
battery/energy storage research, on which the SESS operation will
be based.
“The extensive range of knowledge available at USW will help SMEs
involved in SESS to capitalise on our existing academic and
research strengths and the resulting innovation will maximise the
contribution of Welsh businesses to future economic growth.”