About Us

Renewable Engine is an exciting €6.1m cross-border Research & Innovation project aimed at facilitating direct knowledge transfer and technology development within the Advanced Manufacturing and Renewable Energy sectors.  Research themes focus on Energy Generation, Energy Storage and enabling technologies, including Industry 4.0 and Augmented Reality.  Renewable Engine involves an internationally recognised cross-border research super-cluster involving four research institutes.  Led by South West College, Renewable Engine operates across a network of research institutes including Queen’s University Belfast, Institute of Technology Sligo and the University of Strathclyde’s High-Value Manufacturing Catapult.  The project delivers dedicated research support to industry through 12 PhD researchers and a further 4 postdoctoral researchers, bridging the “innovation gap” typically observed between academic and commercial entities.

The project exists across the eligible region of Northern Ireland, Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland and is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), with match funding provided by the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (Republic of Ireland).  The €283m INTERREG VA Programme is one of 60 similar funding programmes across the European Union that have been designed to help overcome the issues that arise from the existence of a border.  These issues range from access to transport, health and social care services, environmental issues and enterprise development.  Since 1991 the INTERREG Programme has brought in approximately €1.13 billion into the region.  This funding has been used to finance thousands of projects that support strategic cross-border co-operation in order to create a more prosperous and sustainable region.

Renewable Engine Specific Objectives

Develop an internationally recognised cross-border research super-cluster in Renewable Energy and Advanced Manufacturing technologies.

Facilitate direct knowledge transfer, technology development and innovation within the Renewable Energy Sector through the provision of R&I support and technology development grants to industry partners.

Develop a novel programme of applied industrial research, based on identified industry need, at PhD level and above.

Co-ordinate an international board of renewable energy stakeholders to drive innovative forward-looking applied industrial research and initiate policy dialogue.

Increase knowledge and awareness, within industry in the cross-border region, of the Research & Innovation infrastructure in the Renewable Energy sector.

January31

Renewable Engine programme highlights ground-breaking achievements

INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN FOCUS AS RENEWABLE ENGINE PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS GROUND-BREAKING ACHIEVEMENTS Led by South West College, the Renewable Engine Programme has culminated in a showcase film demonstrating just some of the successes achieved by the programme over the course of its five-year lifetime.  The Renewable Engine Programme was supported with €6.1 million funding … Continued

January28

Industry partner Platinum Tanks launch new product for renewables market

Supported by funding from the Renewable Engine programme delivered in collaboration with South West College, and Queen’s University Belfast, County Monaghan based Platinum Tanks have developed a new self-contained, solar power generator for agricultural use. The company based in Lough Egish employ more than 30 members of staff and supply the UK and Irish markets will an extensive range … Continued


The project is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), with match funding provided by the Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) and Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Republic of Ireland).
Interreg - Northern Ireland - Ireland - Scotland - European Regional Development Fund