And that shared work is happening across the island of Ireland on significant sustainability projects designed to benefit the all-island economy and everyone north and south.
The Shared Island sustainability capital grant scheme has a total budget of €20m, with an allocation of €10m to Enterprise Ireland and €10m to Invest Northern Ireland.
Last week saw the announcement of the initial six successful projects funded through the scheme. Each of the projects aims to integrate sustainable technology in existing facilities to decarbonise industrial operations.
To drive the success of these decarbonisation initiatives, the companies involved are cumulatively investing over €63.5m in the projects concerned.
Among the companies being offered support are two which work on low-carbon cement products. Cement production represents 8pc of all global carbon dioxide emissions, so it is a critical area of focus for decarbonisation.
A collaborative all-island approach is vital to deliver net zero commitments
Dublin-based Ecocem co-grinds recycled crushed glass with ground blast furnace slag to create high-performance, low-carbon cement products. Cemcor, headquartered in Cookstown, is also developing low-carbon cement, that uses low-grade clays instead of energy-intensive limestone.
Other firms offered funding include Aurivo, which is installing an innovative new dairy processing technology that will help decarbonise high temperature processes.
Westmeath-based recycling specialist Gannon Eco is working to scale up an industrial process to treat, recover, and recycle previously untreatable acid waste.
In Northern Ireland, Capper Trading in Dungannon is creating a renewable energy hub, while O&S Doors is making a significant investment in renewable heat and energy at its Tyrone site.
?The projects were announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, together with Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, and Ireland’s Enterprise Minister Peter Burke.
All welcomed the initiative, with the Taoiseach saying there was much to be gained from island-wide collaboration on this front – not only to decarbonise industrial processes, but also to support sustainable growth and jobs across our island.
Cross-border cooperation supports economic growth and decarbonisation
Funded by the Irish Government’s Shared Island fund, the Shared Island sustainability capital grant is part of the €30m Shared Island enterprise scheme.
In a first for this type of all-Ireland collaborative work in sustainability and decarbonisation investment, the scheme has been developed jointly by InterTradeIreland, Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
Focusing on cross-border cooperation to support economic growth, innovation and decarbonisation, the scheme aligns with each administration’s programme for government.
The initial six projects funded under the scheme should also serve as benchmarks for cross-border decarbonisation work and for the commercial value of investing in sustainability innovation.
At the same time, the scheme underlines how a collaborative all-island approach is vital and worthwhile to deliver on Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s net zero commitments and decarbonisation ambitions.
To learn more about how Enterprise Ireland supports businesses to become more sustainable, see enterprise-ireland.com/en/sustainability
?Kevin McShane is senior development executive, Shared Island, at Enterprise Ireland
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