Member Article

Warrington engineering expert pilots new clean energy technology

A Warrington engineering company is set to pilot a brand-new technology that aims to facilitate clean energy and reduce carbon emissions.

Westwood Technical has developed Aircom RTU devices, which are self-contained, battery-powered communications devices used to monitor the gas network. The first major deployment will be supported by the awarded special grant from the Cheshire and Warrington LEP.

The company was given £231,000 as part of a £4.151m fund created by the LEP to support energy innovation in small and medium-sized businesses.

Shared between nine companies across the region, the Energy Innovation Fund was designed to support Cheshire and Warrington’s ongoing commitment to clean growth, championing innovative projects being led by SMEs.

Westwood Technical’s pilot project is among those benefitting from the pot of cash, allowing the company to also create new job opportunities.

Jack Ridge, Sales Director at Westwood Technical, said: “We’re excited to take this project into the second stage and the grant has enabled this innovative project to go ahead. Our devices and data network facilitates green energy sources and reduces carbon emissions.

“The grant from Cheshire and Warrington LEP will help to fund the purchase of equipment, conduct a deployment study, create a batch of Aircom instruments and is also helping our company to create seven new jobs in this specialist field.”

The Energy Innovation Fund is part of the LEP’s £201m Local Growth Fund Programme and forms an integral part of the organisation’s future growth strategy, according to Cheshire and Warrington LEP Chair Clare Hayward.

She said: “This investment is one of nine projects supported by the £4.1m Energy Fund. The fund supports the LEP’s commitment to create the first zero carbon industrial cluster and will help to ensure Cheshire and Warrington becomes the UK leader in clean growth. It is fantastic that we have been able to help Westwood Technical pursue this project and take it to the next stage.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Helena Young .