Corridor wins slice of EU green fund

Manchester has been awarded a share of a European Commission €24m green technologies fund, as part of a consortium with Eindhoven in Holland and Stavanger in Norway.

The partnership project is called Triangulum. The scheme will aim to demonstrate 'smart green growth', reducing carbon emissions while boosting the economy.

The Manchester part of the project focuses on the Oxford Road Corridor and is led by Manchester City Council, working alongside the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester-based businesses Siemens and digital technology company Clicks & Links.

The funding will enable investment in technologies from renewable energy and storage to improved distributed energy efficiency and intelligent energy management using ICT data. It will also support the increased use of electric vehicles.

Cllr Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: "Cities use a large proportion of the world's resources and need to be in the forefront of environmental improvements.

"New technologies are opening up opportunities all the time and Corridor Manchester has the right conditions to show how smart city districts can help make a positive difference."

Juergen Maier, chief executive for Siemens UK said: "The corridor has all the right assets for establishing an international smart city district, demonstrating how new technologies can drive growth whilst at the same time reducing carbon emissions. We hope to be able to help the project achieve these objectives."