A company which uses the stuff that goes down sewage pipes in factories, offices and flats and turns it into alternative energy has been awarded a £40,000 grant.
SHARC Energy Systems will use the cash from the Nottingham Technology Grant Fund (N’Tech) to launch a manufacturing site in Nottingham within the next 18 months, which is expecting to create up to 20 new skilled manufacturing jobs by 2016.
The company’s system uses clog-proof raw sewage filtration and heat exchange technology to harness and drive the heat generated by waste water and sewage.
It can be used in buildings where there are large numbers of people, such as hospitals, schools, student accommodation and leisure centres.
SHARC Energy Systems is the UK-based subsidiary partner of Canadian-based International Waste Water Systems Limited.
The firm launched in Beeston in June after selecting Nottingham as its location for its new UK and European operations. Its systems are used widely across Canada and North America.
Managing director Russ Burton said: “The SHARC Energy System uses what is usually a building’s waste by taking the raw sewage, treating and cleaning it, then using it to create a highly cost-effective alternative heat source.
“The N’Tech grant allows us to develop our operation in the city and build on Nottingham’s growing green energy sector. Nottingham is the perfect place to make our European HQ and we hope to help grow this exciting industry. The support available here is fantastic and we are looking forward to a bright future.”
N’Tech grants are funded solely through the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).
Nottingham City Council secured RGF from the Government for grants to help fast track development of businesses.
Grants of between £20,000 and £1m are available.
The N’Tech fund has so far had 56 successful applications across the digital content, life sciences and clean technology sectors.
Grants worth a total of £6.6m have been awarded, with 1,573 jobs created and safeguarded across greater Nottingham.
Dr Nick Gostick, managing director of Inntropy Limited, who runs the Nottingham CleanTech Centre – an incubator for clean technology businesses – said “The clean technology sector is thriving in Nottingham.
“The support available to help sustainable development and to support product innovation is fantastic.
“There is secure investment finance and grants such as the N’Tech fund available and such initiatives really help the renewable and clean tech sector.”
