Get free advice on renewable energy for firms region wide

Mar 13 2007 By The Journal

A Tees Valley-based team's wealth of skills and expertise in the rapidly expanding renewable energy market is now set to reach out and help firms across the region. And it's hoped the Centre For Process Innovation's latest venture will help scores of local firms attract investment, create new jobs and see new ideas and opportunities grow.

CPI's Fuel Cell Applications Facility (FCAF) has secured funding to offer free help and advice to small and medium-sized firms based in the North-East.

Thanks to funding from regional development agency One NorthEast and the European Regional Development Fund, FCAF can now provide up to 10 free days of business development and support.

"This gives us the opportunity to work with SMEs in a range of energy, construction and related sectors. Our focus is on fuel cells, the production of low carbon fuels and the associated supply chain," said FCAF director Dr Graham Hillier.

"Development of fuel cell technology, and the whole renewable sector, will only be successful if there is a supply chain in place.

"That could mean working with companies in the hydrogen, sustainable fuels, fuel cells and distributed energy industry, but also companies that support those sectors, such as people making equipment or involved with manufacture and assembly."

FCAF hopes to work with about 70 firms over the coming months. And funding is now in place to work alongside the region's firms until September 2008.

"Companies may need help marketing a product they already have," added Dr Hillier.

"Or they may want to utilise fuel cells to integrate renewable energy technology into their processes."

Last year, CPI opened the £1.5m FCAF, the first of its type in the country.

It provides a test bed for companies operating in the North-East to develop fuel cells systems for commercial applications.

In the last two years, the FCAF has produced and tested a number of fuel cell systems across the Tees Valley. These have included road signs, power plants and light and movement sculptures.

The FCAF is now developing a strong industrial cluster to support fuel cell-related companies.

As part of its support activities, the new development centre offers all the facilities required to develop, build, test and manufacture fuel cell systems.

The full range of fuel cell fuels are available at the facility, including hydrogen.

There is also a range of electrical, mechanical and heat monitoring equipment to help companies develop new products.

Fuel cells use an electrochemical process, similar to that in a battery, to transform a range of gaseous and liquid fuels into heat and power.

The highly efficient process reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50% and produces no harmful emissions.

Experts from across the world see the technology as an essential element in developing cleaner, low carbon highly efficient energy supplies.

Louise Barker, European Regional Development Fund administrator at CPI, said: "We want to work with a really varied range of companies.

"As well as people developing fuel cell products, we might work with, for example, architects to give advice on incorporating these new technologies for a new building project.

"We want to start giving support and working with firms right from the concept stage."

She added: "Each company's requirements will be different. Plus we have the expertise to help them look for grants and funding to develop their ideas further."

By offering up to 10 days' free support, Dr Hillier says the team has the flexibility to work on a variety of ideas and projects.

"We have a team here now of about 15 people with a wealth of knowledge and expertise," he added. "We've got the skills and understanding of the market to really help companies in the North-East.

"It gives SMEs the opportunity to see if their product or idea has potential - something they may not be able to do, or afford, by themselves."

The FCAF team hopes to work with SMEs from around the region, providing product assessment and market analysis, fuel cell development and advice on legal, technical and manufacturing aspects.

Sharing its expertise with others has already proved successful - and a cluster of fuel cell-related companies continue to grow.

At the end of last year, the FCAF revealed its work with Cellspace had led to it opening an office next to CPI in the Wilton Centre.

Cellspace is working on integrated heat and power systems that halve fuel consumption and emissions from buildings.

"Our long-term aim is to see much of the industry established here in the North-East," added Dr Hillier.

"We have all the technical skills and the commercial opportunities to make that a reality. We want to hear from companies out there across the North-East."

For more information contact Louise Barker, Fuel Cell Applications Facility, Centre for Process Innovation, Wilton Centre, Wilton, Redcar.

Tel: (01642) 447275, email: louise.barker@uk-cpi.com, or log on to www.uk-cpi.com