European Committee Tour Swansea

Representatives from across Europe descended on Swansea on April 29^th for a day-long study tour of the region, focusing on its industrial past and its current status as a front runner in developing renewable energy technologies.

The theme for the visit by members of the European Committee of the Regions (the

European Union's assembly of regional and local representatives) was low carbon, energy and the environment and finding sustainable solutions for environmental and resource management through innovative research.

The event was hosted by the EnAlgae project based within Swansea University’s College of

Science, a £12 million project funded by the European Union via the INTERREG IVB NWE programme, based on developing algal bioenergy technologies.

Dr Shaun Richardson, project manager for EnAlgae, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Committee of the Regions to Swansea to demonstrate how the University is the forefront of research and innovation into matters of renewable energy and food and fuel security.”

Delegates who made the journey were introduced through the EnAlgae project to the process of growing algae and tapping its potential as an energy source and means of remediating waste water and gases, including industrial CO² emissions. They were also treated to a showcase of other projects currently being undertaken at the University including the SEACAMS project otherwise known as the Sustainable Expansion of the Applied Coastal Marine Sectors in Wales. This is a strategic development project aiming to integrate research and business opportunities around the coast of Wales.

The LCRI Marine, or Low Carbon Research Institute Marine Consortium, was also represented.  This is a collaboration of all the leading academic marine institutions in Wales and aims to enable support and help build a sustainable marine energy sector in Wales. 

Members of the SPECIFIC project were also on-hand to discuss their progress in developing functional coated steel and glass products for roofs and walls that generate, store and release renewable energy.