EN ERGY
T he B ay Te chnolo g y Centre
ENERGY-POSITIVE CENTRE ON SCHEDULE IN PORT TALBOT A new Welsh energy-positive technology centre is on schedule for completion by December.
T
he Bay Technology Centre, in Neath Port Talbot, includes sustainable features such as specialist photovoltaic panels made to look like cladding, and a ‘thermal mass’ of exposed precast floor slabs to store and transfer heat from the building. Construction was timed to avoid disruption to local wildlife, and landscaping will include a mix of grass and wildflowers to the site. The council-backed £7.9m three-storey office and laboratory space offers units for start-up companies, local businesses and inward investors.
Integrated Energy Systems Project (FLEXIS) and the TWI Technology Centre (Wales). The area has strong links with academia, and a number of established innovation research centres, specialising in hydrogen, energy systems, and other cutting-edge technologies.
Construction was timed to avoid disruption to local wildlife, and landscaping will include a mix of grass and wildflowers to the site.
Neath Port Talbot has a number of developments under way which support innovation and low carbon growth, including SPECIFIC, (an innovation and knowledge centre), the Hydrogen Research Centre, The Flexible
A council spokesperson said: “We are close to completing a state-ofthe-art, hybrid building the design of which ties in perfectly with the council’s Decarbonisation and Renewable Energy (DARE) Strategy for a cleaner, greener future for everyone.”
THE BAY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE npt.gov.uk
The initiative has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government and UK Government through the £58.7m Supporting Innovation and Low Carbon Growth Programme, part of the £1.8bn Swansea Bay City Deal regional investment project.
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