{"id":254161,"date":"2021-03-29T07:24:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T07:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/news\/20m-funding-granted-for-decarbonisation-project-in-south-wales\/"},"modified":"2023-07-24T12:56:28","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T12:56:28","slug":"20m-funding-granted-for-decarbonisation-project-in-south-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandbox.lightsourcebp.com\/uk\/news\/20m-funding-granted-for-decarbonisation-project-in-south-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a320m funding granted for decarbonisation project in South Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a320m funding granted for decarbonisation project in South Wales<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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London \u2013 Lightsource bp, <\/span>a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects,\u00a0<\/span>announces participation\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) deployment project,\u00a0<\/span>which\u00a0<\/span>now includes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>funding of nearly \u00a320m<\/span>\u00a0from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For Lightsource bp, this is an opportunity to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>contribute towards meaningful<\/span>\u00a0innovation and resea<\/span>rch into viable opportunities for<\/span>\u00a0technology<\/span>\u00a0(including solar)<\/span>, that could complement<\/span>\u00a0the fu<\/span>ture\u00a0<\/span>deployment of green<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hydrogen<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>There is a huge spotlight on green hydrogen\u00a0<\/span>at the moment<\/span>, as it\u00a0<\/span>has the potential\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>play\u00a0<\/span>a vital\u00a0<\/span>role in<\/span>\u00a0decarbonising\u00a0<\/span>energy\u00a0<\/span>intensive<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>industry<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having developed solar\u00a0<\/span>projects<\/span>\u00a0in Wales since 201<\/span>2<\/span>, Lightsource bp currently\u00a0<\/span>operate and manage<\/span>\u00a0a portfolio of\u00a0<\/span>7<\/span>\u00a0grid-connected\u00a0<\/span>solar power stations<\/span>\u00a0across the region<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>including projects<\/span>\u00a0in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Glamorgan<\/span>\u00a0and Wrexham. These sites<\/span>\u00a0a<\/span>re connected into the local electricity networks and<\/span>\u00a0have an installed capacity of almost 30MWp, which is equivalent to the annual energy needs of around\u00a0<\/span>7,700<\/span>\u00a0homes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joining SWIC,\u00a0<\/span>Lightsource bp<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>adds value beyond just solar expertise by leveraging\u00a0<\/span>it<\/span>s wide range of in-house knowledge and skillsets<\/span>\u00a0across<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>engineering excellence,\u00a0<\/span>quality,<\/span>\u00a0and technical innovation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lightsource bp will\u00a0<\/span>also bring a global perspective to the project by knowledge sharing\u00a0<\/span>outputs from other green hydrogen initiatives the company is involved with, primarily in Australia and Europe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Buckland, Technical Director<\/span>, Lightsource bp, said: \u201c<\/span>Green hydrogen represents a big step in decarbonising the global fuel supply, sustainably supporting industries across all sectors.\u00a0<\/span>This announcement is a great step forward\u00a0<\/span>for the UK<\/span>, and o<\/span>ur participation in the SWIC is an<\/span>\u00a0example of how solar expertise can play a much wider role through innovation<\/span>\u00a0across the energy sector<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For us, it\u2019s a chance to look\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>how the process currently works, and see\u00a0<\/span>how<\/span>\u00a0our skillset<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0can improve and adapt,<\/span>\u00a0to investigate new ways of optimising the process for solar.\u00a0<\/span>We\u2019re\u00a0<\/span>excite<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0to have this opportunity to demonstrate the quality<\/span>\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>Lightsource bp\u2019\u00a0<\/span>knowledge and expertise<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>look forward to\u00a0<\/span>working with our partners to help<\/span>\u00a0driv<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>the development of green hydrogen<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: \u201cWe were the first major economy to put into law our target to end our contribution to climate change, and today we\u2019re taking steps to be the first major economy to have its own low-carbon industrial sector. While reaching our climate targets will require extensive change across our economy, we must do so in a way that protects jobs, creates new\u00a0<\/span>industries<\/span>\u00a0and attracts inward investment – without pushing emissions and business abroad. Ahead of COP26, the UK is showing the world how we can cut emissions, create\u00a0<\/span>jobs<\/span>\u00a0and unleash private investment and economic growth. Today\u2019s strategy builds on this winning formula as we transition low carbon and renewable energy sources, while supporting the competitiveness of Britain\u2019s industrial base.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lightsource bp and the other members of SWIC are working together to try and\u00a0<\/span>enhance<\/span>\u00a0the flexibility of the electrolyser technology and increase its efficiency for renewables, laying the groundwork for new routes to cost-effective, easily scalable hydrogen produced with the smallest possible carbon footprint.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

View our project page.<\/a><\/p>\n\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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