U.K. puts up £10M for new materials technologies

The U.K. government's Technology Strategy Board announced today that it teamed up with the country's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to jointly invest over £10 million in new materials technologies projects.

The funding will go toward 16 projects focusing on materials for energy generation, transmission and distribution, storage, and conservation.

Along with investment from the groups involved, the Technology Strategy Board said the projects have a total value in excess of £20 million.

"Through this support, the Technology Strategy Board is helping to bring together the U.K.'s world class expertise to research and develop innovative technologies in a key area for the U.K.," said David Bott, director of innovation programs for the Technology Strategy Board.

"The technologies will bring enormous economic benefit in future, and will have global potential."

The projects include the development of polymer photovoltaic architectural glass, and energy efficient bio-based natural fiber insulation.

The U.K.'s Polysolar is leading the polymer PV project, which is working on a low cost, translucent photovoltaic architectural glass based on conjugated organic polymers for applications in building windows and curtain walling.

The bio-based natural fiber project is led by Bangor University in Wales, and is aiming to develop a sustainable, thin and highly efficient insulation solution that's suitable for new builds as well as for the refurbishment market.

Other projects include new materials and methods for energy efficient tidal turbines, sustainable power cable materials technologies, and high-temperature silicon carbide electronics.