An £8.3 million green energy project launched yesterday is already helping Welsh companies turn up the heat on their rivals.
Cardiff University’s SEREN project aims to help businesses in West Wales and the Valleys lead the way in developing new technologies and products, creating up to 150 jobs in the low carbon economy.
Renewable energy company WDS Environmental is one of the first to benefit from the programme which is backed with £4.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government. It is also funded by the British Geological Survey, the private sector and Cardiff University’s own funds.
Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones (pictured) said:
“At the heart of the SEREN programme is a commitment to foster a climate of innovation which will lead to more highly skilled jobs, enterprise creation and inward investment for the benefit of the whole Convergence area of West Wales and the Valleys.
“Our Economic Renewal programme highlights our commitment to helping business to commercialise research to develop the next generation of low carbon technologies is vital to position Wales as a world leader in this area and help meet our energy targets.”
Through SEREN collaborative research is underway with WDS into ground source heating, which uses geosolar energy from the ground to provide heating and hot water for domestic and commercial premises.
The company, which has offices in Swansea, Brecon and Cardiff, designs, supplies, installs and maintains heating pumps, which extract and utilise low temperature heat from the ground.
