FMC-Tech, which is headquartered in Shannon, Co Clare, has developed an intelligent network monitoring system for the utilities network. Despite being up against strong competition in the form of the Bosnia and Herzegovina wind turbine developer Turbina IPD, FMC-Tech scooped the ‘Best International Trade Award’ at the Energy Innovation Awards, which were held in Manchester last night.

In their inaugural year, the awards are the brainchild of the Cheshire-based Energy Innovation Centre, which fosters innovation and provides a gateway to accelerate cutting-edge products and technologies to market.

Enabling smart grids
FMC-Tech has pioneered an intelligent network monitoring system for widescale use across the utility network. The technology increases the capacity of transmission circuits and delivers real-time information required to enable the operation of “smart grid” schemes, supporting the introduction of network renewable-electricity generation.

Speaking last night, Mike McCormack, managing director of FMC-Tech, said: “I would like to give my sincere thanks to the Energy Innovation Centre, whose input into the project has been fundamental to achieving the results we have seen. We are looking forward to deploying our system throughout the UK and European utilities network.”

Gateway to commercialisation

The Energy Innovation Centre seeks businesses or individuals with a bright idea in energy products or services that they want to turn into commercial reality and aims to create 30 new companies and 100 new jobs by 2013.

It connects individual inventors and small businesses with:

- Industry grant funding, equity funding and public sector funding

- The R&D teams of some of the key energy industry players

- Technical support to validate new technologies

- A professional business support network

- Potential customers in the energy sector

The Energy Innovation Awards were supported by Northwest Regional Development Agency, European Regional Development Fund, Department for Energy and Climate Change, EA Technology Group, EA Technology Ventures,Energy Networks Association, Electricity North West,Envirolink Northwest, IET, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Energy and UKTI.

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