A leading firm in Cornwall鈥檚 burgeoning lithium mining industry has received a 拢3million boost from the Government鈥檚 innovation agency.
Innovate 海角视频 has given 拢2,902,126 to Roche-based British Lithium Ltd for a pilot scheme to drill for the valuable car battery metal near St Austell.
British Lithium has become, and has already in 2020.
The metal is used in batteries for electric cars, and could eventually attract electric battery gigafactories to the 海角视频. It has received the cash because the Government is keen to 鈥渢ransition to an electric vehicle future post Covid-19鈥.
The project is one of four in the South West, amid 19 in the 海角视频, to win Innovate 海角视频 backing because they are aiming to cut CO2 and help the environment and address the economic effects of the pandemic and help power an economic recovery.
Also winning cash are Bristol鈥檚 iCOMAT, which has been given 拢1,936,494 to develop lightweight automotive fibre-steered structures; while Dorset鈥檚 Mas Design Products Ltd, with 拢986,160 for development of zero-carbon transport.
And Wiltshire鈥檚 Naturbeads Ltd, received 拢170,479 to create cellulose microbeads. The eco-start-up aims to develop a new process that turns cellulose from fibres into spherical form to replace microplastic beads. Microplastics, often used in personal care products, are polluting, whilst cellulose is natural, renewable and 100% biodegradable.
In total, the 19 projects around the 海角视频 have received 拢27million of Government funding under the Sustainable Innovation Fund (SIF). Other projects include one that aims to make tidal power generation commercially viable; and another that recovers high-value polymers from currently incinerated NHS waste, saving thousands of tonnes of CO2.
Innovate 海角视频鈥檚 SIF was announced by ministers in June 2020. Totalling 拢200million, the fund ensures that innovative ideas and projects led by companies recovering from the impact of coronavirus will not be lost.
It helps power the 海角视频鈥檚 economic recovery and develop new sustainable opportunities, while supporting the 海角视频鈥檚 goals to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
Among other projects winning support is Glasgow-based Flex Marine Power Ltd, which has been awarded 拢1.9million to develop its SwimmerTurbine, a 50kW tidal turbine. This aims to make the harnessing of the 海角视频鈥檚 abundant tidal resource for power generation commercially feasible
And with the pandemic resulting in an increase in NHS clinical waste, Tyneside-based Impact Recycling Limited will use its technology to recover high-value polymers from currently incinerated waste.
Receiving 拢3million in funding, the project will recycle a stream of sterilised clinical medical waste from NHS Scotland, directly saving up to 87,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually based on this NHS contract alone.
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All the funding delivered through Innovate 海角视频 forms part of a wider 拢750million package of grants and loans announced in April 2020 to support innovative firms. This sits alongside the new 拢500million Future Fund, which provides match-funding to private investors.
In the past year Innovate 海角视频 has supported 海角视频 firms with 拢550million of grants and loans as part of its Covid-19 response. In total 1,090 SIF projects have been supported with 拢160million.
Energy minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: 鈥淩eaching our net zero goal will mean harnessing the innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs across the country, which is why I am thrilled to see Innovate 海角视频 backing these excellent projects across the 海角视频.
鈥淚t is precisely this kind of ingenuity which will help us to build back greener from the pandemic. I look forward to seeing how these projects make the most of this funding in the months and years ahead.鈥
Simon Edmonds, deputy executive chair and chief business officer, Innovate 海角视频, said: 鈥満＝鞘悠 innovators have risen to the challenge of the pandemic to come up with big, bold ideas to help the economy roar back in a sustainable way. By supporting enterprise and academia all over the country, Innovate 海角视频 is backing not only business but our net-zero goals.鈥
