Renewable research to receive EU cash

The EU is to spend almost €10 million (£8.9m) on researching renewable energy in western Scotland and Ireland.

The work will focus on the use of tidal power at Strangford Lough and the North Antrim coast in Northern Ireland, ocean energy sites in western Scotland and the potential for wave and tidal power generation in Donegal. A virtual centre of competence at Queen’s University Belfast will host crossborder studies into bioand marine-based power.

Gina Mcintyre, chief executive officer of the Special EU Programmes Body, said: “The region has a low level of industry-relevant research and innovation within the renewable energy sector.

“The Bryden Centre project will help address this issue by creating a new centre of competence made up of dedicated PHD students creating high quality research with strong commercial potential.”

Working with a number of cross-border partners including the University of Highlands and Islands, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Ulster University, Donegal County Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council, the project will create the largest amount of crossborder research in this area to date.