A team of marine science experts from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland will pioneer innovative research into marine renewable energy having received almost €6 million (approximately £5stg million) in funding from the European Union.
The Institutes of Technology in Dundalk and Sligo will work with Queens University Belfast, the University of Ulster and the Scottish Association for Marine Sciences which is leading development work on the BioMara project.
The BioMara tri-partite (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland) research project aims to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of locally producing mari-fuels from marine biomass derived from seaweed and plant sources (algae) as an alternative to agri-fuel production from land based plants. It will harness the expertise and resources of the three countries.
Commenting on the importance of the BioMara project, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said:
“The Irish Government is committed to the research into and development of renewable energy sources and has provided significant funding for this purpose. I believe that the premise of the project is both exciting and potentially very significant - that marine algae can be harvested, processed and then utilised as a green energy source. There is huge potential for this, provided it can be proven as viable.
This is one of the best projects ever brought before, and approved by, the Energy Theme of INTERREG. I commend the wisdom of the collaborating teams in bringing forward this complex project in a manner which will utilise the individual strengths of the teams while providing a synergy that no one partner or jurisdiction could have managed alone. In particular, I commend the Scottish partners in leading in this, their first year in this particular INTERREG Programme.”
Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond said:
“The £5 million investment is a welcome boost to what is proving to be one of our most resilient and promising sectors in these challenging economic times.
By identifying the potential for a new industry, this regional project could bring long term economic and social benefits to the cross border area, including the prospect of hundreds of valuable jobs in remote coastal areas and islands.
The development of mari-fuels could have a lasting impact on remote and rural communities by providing locally produced relatively cheap, low impact fuel as well as serving the local public transport infrastructure.”
Announcing Northern Ireland’s support for this major tripartite study, Energy Minister Arlene Foster said:
“This research is at the cutting edge of marine renewable energy technology and will put the region and our universities at the forefront of world wide marine bio-energy research. The work will significantly increase our knowledge in a key growth area for renewable energy.
It has great potential for cleaner energy sources from abundant marine plant life to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and open up economic opportunities for Northern Ireland. I am very pleased that Northern Ireland is working closely with Scotland, the Irish Republic and the European Union to fund and support this important research.”
Work will get underway on the research study in early 2009.
ENDS
Note to editors:
1. The BioMara tri-partite (Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland) research project aims to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of locally producing mari-fuels from marine biomass derived from seaweed and plant sources (algae) as an alternative to agri-fuel production from land based plants.
2. The total project value is around €6m (approx £5m). Around 65 per cent of funding will be directed to the lead partner, the Scottish Association of Marine Science), and the remainder split between the other partners - the Centre for Renewable Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology (CREDIT) and the Institute of Technology, Sligo, University of Strathclyde; the Questor Centre, Queens University Belfast and University of Ulster.
3. Along with the recently approved ISLES project which aims to make a regional case for an marine electricity grid network between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland, the Biomara project consolidates the region’s success under the Cross Border Cooperation Programme; bringing total investment of €256 million to Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
4. The Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme for the Border Region of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland 2007-2013 (the INTERREG IVA Programme) is a European Union supported Structural Funds Programme which seeks to address the economic and social problems which result from the existence of borders. The INTERREG IVA Programme will continue the earlier Programme’s strong focus on Ireland, North and South, by assisting two categories of project: (i) North South projects, as before; (ii) Tripartite projects that involve Ireland, North and South, and Scotland. Every project will therefore have an Ireland, North and South, element.
The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) will be Managing Authority for the new Programme. The INTERREG IVA 2007-2013 Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland is worth €256 million.