About Us

This collaborative programme aims to position Northern Ireland as a region of excellence in the clean energy sector by capitalizing on the new opportunities in Sustainable Development. This sector represents a significant international opportunity for growing the economy in Northern Ireland.

Objectives

The Carbon Zero NI programme has a three-pronged strategy which will help build capacity to develop new sustainable technologies, product, processes and services in Northern Ireland:

1. To position the NI Further Education sector as an engine for the development of smart innovative sustainable technologies in the areas of clean energy to include:
   • Wind Energy
   • Energy from Waste
   • Clean Energy Storage
   with the aim of securing a genuine leadership position in the exploitation of specific technology areas in the global market.
2. To identify international market opportunities in the areas of sustainable development and clean energy and assist NI companies to exploit these opportunities. This will be facilitated via the establishment of a Knowledge and Technology Platform in the area of clean energy.
3. To develop a model of high impact ‘clean and green’ regional capacity building and business development programmes throughout the Northern Ireland FE sector. These programmes will help to develop an advanced and highly competent skills base in the sustainable development sector and will be contextualised at the levels of operator/installer and middle management. Central to this regional capacity building will be the re-branding of existing and new ‘clean and green’ development and training programmes.

Funding

Support of more than £700,000 for the programme has been provided by the Department for Employment and Learning through the Innovation Fund, Employer Support Programme.

College Partners

There are five partner colleges involved in this highly innovative project together with the South West College. These are:

Industrial Partners

Underpinning all elements of the ‘Carbon Zero NI’ programme will be a focus on market and challenge led innovation with strong industrial engagement with key national and international players. Industrial partners include B9 Energy, CMS Global and Global Wind Alliance.

Meet the Carbon Zero NI Teams