Low carbon demonstration area projects unveiled at launch event

Prof Mark Taylor, Deputy Director Energy Innovation at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) presenting on energy systems and clean growth: challenges and opportunities

FLEXIS and Neath Port Talbot Borough Council unveiled a number of green energy projects which will support Port Talbot’s move towards a smart, low carbon future at the demonstration area launch event on Thursday 16 May.

One of the flagship projects involves using hydrogen generated from excess electricity to fuel vehicles from Neath Port Talbot’s new £7m Swansea Bay Technology Centre in Baglan Bay Energy Park, while another centres on an area-wide air quality monitoring programme.

During the welcome address, Cllr Edward V Latham, Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering at Neath Port Talbot Council stated: “Neath Port Talbot Borough Council is delighted to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with FLEXIS – a £24m research and innovation programme of energy systems technologies across Wales”.

The projects laid out in the MOU were outlined by Steven Phillips, Chief Operating Officer for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and include:

1. Smart Low Carbon Town – Port Talbot (Smart Local Energy Systems)
2. Electrical Grid Constraints
3. Swansea Bay Technology Centre / University of South Wales Hydrogen Centre
4. Low Emission Vehicles / Electrical Charging
5. Cefn Coed Colliery Museum
6. Mine Water Heat Recovery
7. Real-time Energy Modelling
8. Air Quality

Held at Margam Orangery, the event was opened by Prof Mark Taylor, Deputy Director Energy Innovation at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Prof Taylor said: “FLEXIS has great potential for technologies which address climate change, particularly in the areas of industrial heat recovery and hydrogen”.

Prof Phil Bowen, Prof Mark Taylor, Prof Ron Loveland, Steven Phillips and the FLEXIS team at the launch event

Attended by FLEXIS Advisory Board members, researchers, partners and guests, the event also showcased work currently underway in the demonstration area, including the scale-up of mine water heating of the Llwyn-Lanc Uchaf farm in Crynant into a community scheme; and the Social Acceptability and Responsible Development of Energy Systems community workshops taking place in Neath Port Talbot.