EU project announced for Welsh & Irish water industry

Finance and Government Business Minister, Jane Hutt, has announced a £2.5M EU-backed project for the water industry in Wales & Ireland.

Designed to improve the long-term sustainability of water supply and distribution in both countries, as well improving efficiency, the project also aims to create a culture of innovation in the industry due to the environmental challenges the water industry faces in Wales and Ireland as well as the challenges of climate change.

The project – Dŵr Uisce – will help to develop new low carbon energy-saving technology, including micro-hydropower turbines. These new technologies will be tested in Ireland and Wales before being released commercially.

Dŵr Uisce are the Welsh and Irish words for water.

Trinity College Dublin and Bangor University will work in partnership on the five year project which has been financed by £2M of EU funding through the EU’s Ireland-Wales co-operation programme.

Dŵr Uisce is the first project being funded under the new Ireland-Wales programme. Aiming to strengthen economic links between Wales and Ireland, the Co-operation programme has a £75M fund to support cross border initiatives including around climate change, natural resources, innovation, heritage and tourism, which will benefit people and communities within the south-east region of Ireland and the north and west of Wales.

Finance Minister, Jane Hutt, said: “The Ireland Wales programme is a unique partnership between both our nations that provides an excellent platform to do business and address common challenges and opportunities which cut across our sea border.

“The programme is also another valuable source of EU investment, and I’m delighted that £2m of EU funds will enable Trinity College Dublin and Bangor University to take forward a project with such important potential for our water industry.”

Stephen Blair, Director of Ireland’s Southern Regional Assembly, said: “The Dŵr Uisce project  is an excellent example of a collaborative cross border project that will deliver positive economic and environmental impacts in both Ireland and Wales.”

Dr Prysor Williams, from Bangor University, said: “The work within the Dŵr Uisce project will help achieve those environmental and economic ‘win–wins’ that are so important for Wales to meet its ambitious targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Securing this EU funding is excellent news, and we are looking forward to bringing our expertise to a project that will have significant benefits for Welsh industries, consumers, and the wider environment.”

Dr Aonghus McNabola, from Trinity College Dublin, said: “The water industry in Ireland and Wales is the fourth most energy intensive sector in both countries and contributes heavily to carbon emissions.

“The Dŵr Uisce project will make significant advances in improving energy efficiency in this sector and will have important environmental and economic impacts on the region.”

 

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