The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, have announced a new €1.69 million energy efficiency research project aimed at significantly reducing energy costs for industry and creating jobs.

The Total Energy Management for Production Operations (TEMPO) research project will focus on establishing an effective way of monitoring total energy consumption during the manufacturing process, so as to reduce overall energy costs. The results of the research will allow international and indigenous companies to significantly reduce their energy costs by helping them reduce their energy bills. This will be achieved by helping the companies to understanding where excess energy is being used.

This project is a cross-border collaboration between Limerick Institute of Technology and the University of Ulster, funded through the International Energy Research Centre (IERC) located at Tyndall National Institute, Cork. Jointly making the announcement, Minister Rabbitte said: "This research project, with its strong focus on reducing energy costs for industry, is exactly the type of initiative we want to see coming from Ireland’s research community. It clearly demonstrates the benefits that come from linking our research capability with industry needs, and from developing integrated energy projects that can deliver measurable cost-effective solutions. Energy efficiencies are strategically highly important both to industry and to the national economy and this research initiative underpins the Government's objectives in this important area."

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Minister Bruton said: "A key part of the Government's plan for economic growth and job creation is to turn good ideas into good jobs by supporting and investing in Irish research capability and the commercialisation of this research. We are committed to supporting high-tech research in our universities and institutes and to driving increased research-industry collaboration. Today’s announcement is an excellent example of what we are trying to achieve through out investment in research – concreate ideas which can be used by companies to solve problems and create jobs. Through continued implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs, I am determined to ensure we can see more initiatives like this to help create the jobs and growth we need."

(CD)