The piSCES project has come to a successful close with its closure event on 15th December 2020, available on YouTube here. piSCES: The Smart Cluster Energy System (piSCES) project was part funded by the Irish Wales Co-operation Programme 2014-2020 and its objective was to reduce the costs and carbon footprint in the fish processing industry by developing and testing a new ‘smart grid’ electricity network.
The closure event was opened by Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs who provided an overview of the landscape and sector in which piSCES developed this critical technology. By incorporating smart grid technologies, renewable energy and optimisation techniques, large scale efficiency can be achieved. The fact that fishing clusters exist in both Ireland and Wales meant that, solving efficiency problems at a research and test bed level can facilitate a roll up where the scaling of the technology can have a significant impact on decarbonising our future economies. It is envisaged that on successful completion of these energy micro grids, they can begin to trade with other clusters which will facilitate their roll up regionally and then nationally to create a real smart grid. Find out more at the piSCES website here.
The Ireland Wales Programme 2014-2020 is part of the European Territorial Co-operation (ETC) group of funds, which provides opportunities for regions in the EU to work together, to address common economic, environmental and social challenges. The programme focuses on seeking solutions to shared challenges on both sides of the Irish sea, to improve the economic and sustainable development priorities of Ireland and Wales, in the areas of innovation, climate change and cultural & natural resources and heritage.
The Welsh Government manages the programme with partners, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). The overall value of the programme is €100m, utilising €79m from the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). To find out more about the Ireland Wales programme and the list of projects click this link.
