£5m EU Funding Boost For Welsh Universities

Almost £5m of EU funds is being invested in putting Wales at the forefront of next generation solar energy technology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The funding will support a five-year research programme at Welsh universities aimed at addressing the key challenges of developing next generation solar photovoltaic technology. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

SPARC II (the Solar Photovoltaic Academic Research Consortium) will be led by Swansea University in partnership with Bangor and Aberystwyth universities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The research will focus on new applications for next generation solar technology including mobile products, aircraft and the space industry. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme is expected to unlock a further £10m of inward investment to Wales through additional large-scale research and development with multinational companies and specialist manufacturers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welsh businesses in the solar energy industry will also benefit from manufacturing opportunities and access to the world-class research and expertise being developed at universities in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to £4.8m of EU funds, SPARC II is being funded by a £2.4m investment from the participating universities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, said: “This investment is positive news. It will help make Wales a centre of excellence for collaborative research and development with global companies, and create new opportunities for Welsh solar energy businesses”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Stuart Irvine, Director of Swansea University’s Centre for Solar Energy Research, added:“The EU funds for SPARC II provide a unique opportunity to build world class research capacity through a collaboration of leading university research teams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a very exciting time for solar photovoltaic research with the emergence of new materials that could dramatically reduce the cost of solar electricity, making it affordable for all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted that Swansea University has taken the lead with SPARC II and I am looking forward to working with colleagues in Aberystwyth and Bangor to achieve this goal and establish long term sustainability in our research capacity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​