Galway-based greentech company, Cellulac, has been approved for a record €2.8 million grant from the European Commission to commercialise its biorefining technology that converts agricultural waste into lactic acid. Cellulac is a high-potential start up client of Enterprise Ireland which supported the company in its bid for this significant grant.

Lactic acid is used in food and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, biodegradable plastics and other industrial sectors. It is a growing €4 billion pa market and is expanding at a rate of 19% per year.

The EU grant approval, which will anchor a consortium of funding from State, institutional and private investors, will be used to prove mass production capability.  Possible locations for the demonstration plant – where lactic acid will be produced at an industrial level with the goal of licensing the technology world wide – are currently being scouted in Ireland and the EU.

Cellulac will create 14 high quality jobs and will be recruiting graduates from the life sciences and engineering sectors to grow its research base in Ireland.

Fin Murray, chief executive of Cellulac, comments: “This win and our confidence that Cellulac will be filling key R&D roles locally is a testament to the investment poured into the development of the life sciences and green tech sectors over the last number of years. GMIT, NUI Galway and the Technology Centre for Biorefining and Bioenergy supported by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, will prove to be key supports for greentech companies like ours.”

He continues: “We are actively fundraising at the moment and are interested in hearing from potential investors with domain knowledge or potential partners that have a stake in this exciting new industry.”

Enterprise Ireland’s CIP Eco-innovation National Contact Point Mark Sweeney says: “The 2012 call is open soon and we are actively looking for companies with innovative products and processes that reduce environmental impacts.” Any interested companies should contact mark.sweeney@enterprise-ireland.com.

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Fin Murray, chief executive of Cellulac, and Sean Sherlock TD, Minister for Research & Innovation. (Picture by Gary O’Neill Photography).

The Government has launched ‘Developing a Green Enterprise’, a concise guide for businesses in Ireland to the supports (including State-funded programmes) offered by the various State agencies with responsibility for environment, enterprise development and energy.

The Green Enterprise Guide has been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. Developing a Green Enterprise provides directional information on where different businesses can go for assistance in relation to water conservation, waste prevention, energy efficiency and clean technology.  The guide also provides an overview of the key state agencies involved and the programmes and assistance they offer.

Over half of all Irish companies have taken action to improve their energy efficiency in the last three years, according to Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and only one-third of these actions have involved a capital spend. Reducing energy costs is a key priority for Irish business and where energy efficiency initiatives were implemented, most businesses have achieved average energy cost savings of 12%.

Businesses that have participated in the EPA’s Greenbusiness initiative in 2010 have identified almost Eur10 million worth of savings from an investment by the EPA of less than Eur1 million.

C&F Green Energy is to create 145 new jobs in Athenry, County Galway over the next three years supported by Enterprise Ireland. The jobs are aligned to the commercial manufacturing of the C&F Green Energy’s range of new small wind turbines which have been in development over the past two years.

These turbines, ranging from 6kw to 50kw, are much smaller than the large megawatt rated turbines associated with large wind farms. They are designed to power farms, factories, individual residential dwellings and export any surplus electricity back to the local grid.

Enterprise Ireland has made a significant investment in the company and is providing employment grants to support the employment of the 145 new employees.

C&F Green Energy was established within the C&F Manufacturing Group in 2009 when the company identified that the market for small wind turbines was well-matched with its core competencies. Since then, considerable development work was undertaken by the company resulting in a new range of free-standing small wind turbines for generation of home-produced electricity, ranging from 6kw to 50kw.  The company already has a number of orders for the home UK and European market.

C&F Manufacturing Group is a leading indigenous manufacturing company which is owned and managed by John Flaherty, the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. The C&F Manufacturing Group employs over 1100 people worldwide (Germany, Czech Republic, the Philippines & China) and 500 people in Athenry and Mullingar (Iralco). C&F Manufacturing Group operates in an number of sectors including tool design/manufacturing, automotive (Iralco), refrigeration (mobile and fixed), IT hardware and renewable energy.

Enterprise Ireland has announced that the latest round of funding from the €3.2 billion industry-focused initiatives under the EU’s €50 billion Framework Programme 7 (FP7) budget will be available to Irish businesses from mid-July. These Public Private Partnership initiatives are aimed at those sectors most affected by the economic downturn, namely manufacturing, construction and automotive.

Enterprise Ireland is urging companies and researchers to collaborate and apply to the fund. The three areas are:

1. Factories of the Future: €1.2 billion has been committed for the development and innovation of new enabling technologies for the EU manufacturing sector.

2 Energy-efficient Buildings: €1 billion has been committed for methods and technologies to slash energy consumption and CO2 emissions of new and renovated buildings.

3 Green Cars: €1 billion has been committed to developing technologies for more environmentally friendly vehicles.

FP7 funding is a European research and innovation fund designed to incentivise businesses and scientists to join forces to collaborate on developing technologies and products of the future. In the first four years of the framework Programme, Ireland has secured €270 million in funding, with €67 million of this going to companies.

“As well as the funding, other direct benefits for companies include access to technologies and expertise that will support the development and growth of business internationally and for academic researchers to get involved in cutting edge industry focused applied research projects,” says director of the National Support Network for FP7 in Ireland, Dr Imelda Lambkin of Enterprise Ireland.

Irish manufacturers must increasingly be able to measure and reduce their carbon footprint if they are to succeed on export markets, according to the latest BearingPoint Green Supply Chain Monitor 2010-11. The report finds that about two thirds of European companies surveyed consider green supply chain as a strategic priority now or in the short term.

“The environmental impact of goods is becoming an increasing important decision when it comes to purchasing,” explains Claudia Carr, supply chain lead for BearingPoint Ireland. “Over two thirds of companies surveyed indicated that they have implemented, or are implementing, a sustainable purchasing policy. Understanding and managing your carbon footprint is going to become key and Irish companies need to be prepared for this shift.”

Over half of respondents indicated that they did not renew contracts with suppliers who did not respect their green charter, and one third reported a shift from global sourcing towards near or local shore sourcing. “The environmental impact of transportation and manufacturing from some low cost economies is leading to a review of purchasing policies by many organisations. There is a growing opportunity for Irish companies, with good green credentials, to compete for this business,” she adds.

John Whelan, chief executive of the Irish Exporters Association, welcomes the report. “There is no question that Irish businesses which produce transparently environmentally positive products, delivered by carbon neutral logistics services will succeed on international markets,” he says. “At the IEA we fully endorse the reports findings and urge exporters to make the investment in proper carbon labelling based on an accurate supply chain foot print as well as a production process footprint, to gain a competitive edge in our main developed economy markets.”

Fred McDarby, manager, Environment Department, Enterprise Ireland, stresses the opportunity for Irish companies. “We are encouraging our companies to prepare for the impact of Green Procurement (both public and private) on their markets at home and overseas and have put in place a range of supports to help them make savings and enhance the green credentials of their products and services.”

The report highlights the importance of design with at least 80% of the environmental impact of a product being developed during the design process. This not only relates to the way in which the product is produced, but also how it is used and ultimately disposed of. Sectors traditionally active in R&D and innovation have become the leaders in eco-design.

Another finding of the 4th BearingPoint Supply Chain Monitor is that green supply chain initiatives are increasingly being driven by brand image and economics rather than regulation.

“Environmental regulations were the main driver when we last conducted the monitor two years ago. It is significant that boards are now actively promoting green supply chain to enhance their brand reputation and reduce costs,” comments James Govan of BearingPoint.

Indeed, the global economic downturn had accelerated rather than hampered green supply chain initiatives. The study finds that two thirds (66%) of the companies surveyed said that economic conditions had brought forward green initiatives rather than put a brake on them. Many Irish companies, like their European counterparts, have identified cost savings by implementing environmentally friendly initiatives.

European thought leaders and experts in sustainable transport technology and infrastructure were in Dublin today (05/05/11) to inform Irish companies about the opportunities for new technologies and partnerships arising in transport in the UK and Western Europe.

The European Green Transport Conference was organised by Enterprise Ireland for Irish technology companies that supply or are interested in supplying the transport sector in the UK and Western Europe. It is part of Enterprise Ireland’s ongoing drive to direct Irish companies towards new overseas sales and partnering opportunities to help them open up new business and sustain and create jobs in Ireland.

The transport sector across the UK and Western Europe is rapidly evolving and new business areas are emerging due to a number of factors including:

* Government green stimulus packages (UK £560m);

* EU directives and CO2 reduction targets (2020 and 2050 targets);

* Increasing urbanization;

* ‘Smart systems’: convergence of consumer electronics, transport technology and infrastructure that can all ‘talk’ to each other.

Opening the conference Minister of State for Transport Alan Kelly TD said: “Transport investment represents great potential because all policy makers will be striving for a smarter more efficient transport infrastructure. As a member of the Irish Government it would be excellent to see Irish companies supplying these sectors abroad. I believe the state agencies and the private sector must work together to create momentum around the sustainable transport industry with the potential for job creation across many sectors and parallel industries.”

Some of the top transport companies and organisations presented at the conference including Bombardier Rail, Jaguar Land Rover, Alstom, Veolia, the European Commission, the National Roads Authority, and various industry-leading universities.

Enterprise Ireland’s head of global business development Julie Sinnamon added: “The pressing need for sustainable transport solutions across Europe and the UK is resulting in increased demand for new technologies and innovative thinking. Ireland has a solid base of companies that have the technological, manufacturing and innovative experience to deliver technologies to meet these new demands.”

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At the conference were Enterprise Ireland’s head of global business development Julie Sinnamon, Minister of State for Transport Alan Kelly TD and Colin S Walton, chairman of Bombardier Transportation (Rail) UK and Ireland.

Pictured are: Michael Phelan (centre), chief executive of Endeco; sales & marketing director Tom Bean and Alex Hobbs of Dublin BIC, Investment Partner of AIB Seed Capital Fund.

An innovative new Irish company has attracted €800,000 in funding to drive the growth of its business at home and abroad. Founded by chief executive Michael Phelan, Endeco Technologies has invented and developed a range of wireless smart energy management technologies which it is already selling into the retail sector.

The investment in Endeco was led by the €53 million AIB Seed Capital Fund which is co-managed by Dublin BIC, the enterprise development organisation.  Additional funding was raised through Enterprise Ireland and private investors.

Endeco says it already has a strong influx of business and plans to create 30 new jobs by 2012.  The company is actively seeking applications from sales and marketing professionals with Irish and UK experience ideally in the area of software systems.

Endeco’s product involves smart building technology.  The Irish company has recently deployed its products in a number of small and medium sized retail outlets in Ireland with positive results.  The product has demonstrated that it can save retailers up to 25% on their energy costs by using wireless sensors and automated control of energy intensive electrical equipment such as refrigeration, lighting, heating and air conditioning in stores.