Low-carbon technology centre gets 3m funds boost

Published Date: 27 May 2009
By Erikka Askeland

A RENEWABLE technology test centre in East Kilbride has secured 3 million (about £2.6m) in European funding to showcase low-carbon construction methods to Scottish companies.
The Energy Technology Centre is set to double in size, using new building materials and energy efficient LED lighting. Enterprise minister Jim Mather, who announced the EU Regain funding yesterday, said: "This project will help us test and market energy efficiency and low-carbon innovations for the built environment, helping us another step towards the goal of becoming the green energy capital of Europe."Terry Hogg, the project manager for Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, said the scheme would help Scottish construction companies meet new emissions regulations."Building regulations in Scotland are about to change which will force the industry to move this way," he said. "What we are trying to do is provide a platform where technologies can be tested and evaluated and ready for this new market change."Michael Levack, the chief executive of the Scottish Building Federation, welcomed the project but warned the results should aim to bring practical benefit to an industry currently being ravaged by recession. "Rather than far-fetched concepts that might not come on stream for years, look at practical measures that can support the construction sector in the short term to protect employment and capacity," he said.