One of the greatest challenges facing businesses today is to find ways of working more sustainably in line with global concerns. Swansea University is at the forefront of developing sustainable technologies that can help put your business ahead of the competition, saving money and the environment.
The SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre (SPECIFIC) at Swansea University has been adopting technologies that reduce carbon emissions, creating buildings that can generate, store and release their own heat and electricity from solar energy.
SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre is an academic and industrial consortium led by Swansea University, with strategic partners Akzo Nobel, NSG Pilkington, Tata Steel and Cardiff University. It is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Innovate UK and the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government.
Chris Bailey, Business Development Executive at SPECIFIC says the team would welcome contact from businesses who want to save money and work more efficiently: “Companies can gain access to our buildings, resources, specialist equipment and facilities, personnel and their expertise - in most cases at no cost to their business. We can support businesses across the UK, but would particularly welcome contact from companies in West Wales & the Valleys as we have funding available for this area.”
Specific’s vision is underpinned by expertise in a range of technology areas including functional coatings, photovoltaics, solar thermal, heat and electrical storage.
Facilities include:
Pilot Manufacturing Resource Centre – a small-scale roll-to-roll and sheet-to-sheet production line – able to prototype and test manufacture/printing onto surfaces, coatings, curing (nearIR or other), temperature-controlled room for device testing
Multiple visible & working demonstrators - solar heating, storage and manipulation technologies at both domestic and industrial/commercial scale with our Solar Heat Energy Demonstrator (SHED).
Active Classroom/Active Office – working buildings operating as net energy positive structures, proven to generate 1.5x the energy they use.
SPECIFIC’s Energy-Positive Active Classroom wins ‘Innovation Award’
Electric vehicle fleet – We have access to a variety of electric vehicles and charging technologies including cars, vans, bicycles, and decarbonisation of transport.
While SPECIFIC’s demonstrator buildings use existing, full-scale technology to prove the Active Buildings concept, their research and technology teams are working to develop and scale-up the next generation of technologies, which will feed into future industry.
What SPECIFIC can offer
- Advice on how to maximise the effectiveness of solar energy availability for use in buildings
- A thermal survey of buildings and a report suggesting potential areas for improvement
- Solar PV modelling for existing or new buildings and advice on which technologies to use and what the potential energy availability may be
- The opportunity to trial a manufacturing method using our equipment, such as fast curing using our near infrared heater or coating surfaces using our slot die apparatus
- The potential to access collaborative opportunities with organisations such as TATA Steel, NSG, and Akzo Nobel that work with SPECIFIC
- Partner with SPECIFIC as part of innovation or project funding bids
- Product/service innovation with the possibility of using our buildings as a demonstration platform
- Sponsoring research to look at a particular subject of interest to your business
- Many other opportunities for collaboration and support – all enquiries welcome
For more information about SPECIFIC IKC visit www.specific-ikc.uk or to find out how SPECIFIC IKC could help your organisation please