A new Green Innovation Challenge Fund has been launched for businesses to work on projects to solve challenges of moving to a net zero energy system while delivering growth and jobs for NI.

Delivered by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) hosted by Queen's University Belfast - an industry led sustainable energy research centre - has received £4.5 million funding from Department for the Economy (DfE), under the Economic Recovery Action Plan 'Building a Green Economy'.

The fund aims to further the goals of the 10X Economic Vision, Green Growth Strategy and the Energy Strategy by:

• encouraging green innovation in renewables and low carbon technologies

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• providing support to businesses to engage in research and development so that they can continue to innovate and drive new commercial opportunities

• providing advisory services and support to assist companies understand innovation and develop their innovative capabilities

• assisting SMEs to gain the skills they need to engage in innovation activities

• assisting businesses to exploit new opportunities through the adoption of new technologies

• fostering collaboration and partnership between industry, academia and other civic institutions

CASE is seeking applications from suitably qualified consortia for research and development funding to support the decarbonisation of the energy system. Proposals are sought from across the following research areas:

• ocean energy – wave, tidal, offshore wind, floating solar

• bio-energy – anaerobic digestion, biogas production, upgrading and bio-fuel production

• energy systems – community / local energy, grid stabilisation, ancillary and distribution system operator services, demand side management, integrated supply chains and Power-to-X

Find out more about the Green Innovation Challenge Fund and how to apply.

The deadline for applications is Friday 13 May 2022.