Energy entrepreneurs based at NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at UCD, have won the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s inaugural Innovation Award. The winning product, the HIDLightSaver, is the result of research by Belfield Technologies into the costs associated with lighting and High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps found in street lighting, floodlit arenas, motorways and retail outlets.
The Sustainable Energy Innovation Award winning product, the HIDLightSaver was developed and manufactured in Ireland and will help organisations reduce their energy costs and associated carbon footprint by as much as 35% and the technology has the potential to generate savings of Eur14 million on street light running costs alone.
The new SEAI award entries were evaluated on three criteria: innovation, energy performance and environmental impact, and the business potential of each product.
The founders of Belfield Technologies are Dr Ger Devlin, Dr Kevin McDonnell, David Megan and Brian McDonnell, Bioresources Research Centre, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine.
According to SEAI chief executive Professor Owen Lewis: “To see such high levels of creativity from all the finalists, and particularly from our winners, Belfield Technologies, is most encouraging as Ireland’s journey towards the creation of a fully functioning green economy gathers pace. Products like the HIDLightSaver are needed now more than ever and I commend Dr Ger Devlin and Brian McDonnell for all their work in the creation of this product.”
Dr Ger Devlin, co-founder of Belfield Technologies, remarks: “We are delighted to have been presented with this prestigious award, as this endorsement is of vital importance in assisting us to attract customers for our innovative technology. Looking to the future, Belfield Technologies plans to launch into the UK and EU market later this year and plans to create at least 20 jobs in Ireland by 2013. Our vision is to become a successful Irish greentech company providing energy efficient and innovative cost savings solutions worldwide.”
The Sustainable Energy Innovation Award winners will receive financial support towards their business development costs.
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Dr Ger Devlin and Brian McDonnell, Belfield Technologies, winners of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s inaugural innovation award.