Coventry University joins “revolutionary” energy project

COVENTRY University is taking part in a major transnational project which could revolutionise the way businesses access and use energy.

The university has teamed up with groups from seven other European countries to explore how clusters of companies can collaborate to make energy savings and utilise renewable energy.

The project, called “Regional Clusters for Energy Planning,” involves companies and institutions in Ireland, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia and Bulgaria and is supported by the EU’s Intelligent Energy Programme.

Pilot projects are being planned with the aim to create a new policy which can be used as a blueprint on energy use for industry across Europe.

Coventry University says that the project, led by Shannon University in Ireland, has the potential to be revolutionary and the institution is responsible for promoting renewable energy to businesses involved in the project.

Dr Les Duckers from Coventry University says that he expects that businesses will be keen to take part in the project, as the impact of climate change coupled with rising energy costs is a big concern to industry.

“Industrial attitudes to energy have changed over the years, due to the increasing awareness of the environmental impact and the rising cost of energy consumption,” said Dr Duckers.

“Companies are now asking what they can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and this project is designed to find practical solutions.”

Work on the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011 and firms are being asked to fill out a questionnaire about their energy use which they can obtain from Dr Duckers.