Environmental technology

The 'Green Peninsula'
If you've visited the Eden Project, you'll know what an astonishing fusion of natural beauty and technological genius has been created there. While Eden has become an international focus for ecological awareness and sustainable development, Cornwall itself has been building an outstanding reputation in the environmental technology sector.

Its superb natural environment is Cornwall's most precious asset, so it makes sense for the county to put sustainability right at the heart of its vision for the future. But sustainability is not just about protecting the natural world. For many Cornwall-based companies, it's what drives their successful expansion in fields ranging from wind-farm development and geothermal energy to water treatment and waste management.

Turning threats into opportunities
Climate change and environmental pollution are perhaps the greatest threats facing the world today. But these threats also hold out huge opportunities for companies that can rise to the challenge of building a more sustainable future.

Companies like Seacore, for instance. Seacore has, quite literally, laid the foundations for the UK's largest offshore wind-farm as well as for a pioneering tidal energy turbine recently installed off the coast of north Devon. Conwall is also the home of Kensa Engineering, who make and install innovative pumps that use renewable geothermal energy to heat - or cool - buildings of any size.

In the words of Sir Crispin Tickell, Head of the UK Government Panel on Sustainable Development: "Good care of the environment is good business in Cornwall."

Networks
Scientific expertise and dedicated business support
When it comes to finding innovative technological solutions to environmental problems, Cornwall has the unique advantage of being home to one of the world's foremost centres of earth science: the Camborne School of Mines (CSM), part of the Combined Universities in Cornwall.

CSM's multi-disciplinary approach, industrial links and close contacts with funding bodies put it in an excellent position to help companies involved in areas such as land reclamation and waste recycling. It has an associated research centres that give valuable help to companies in the environmental sector:

The Waste Research and Test Centre develops new methods to recover and reuse waste materials. It also offers professional training in waste management and welcomes industrial collaboration on research projects. The Centre assists SMEs by using its links with funding bodies and with industry, government and academic forums.

Also helping companies within the environmental technology sector are:

The Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership (CSEP). Combining the expertise and knowledge of more than 50 organisations within the public, private, health and community sectors, CSEP works to integrate sustainable energy into countywide strategies and programmes.
Environment Kernow is an independent partnership working for the environmental sustainability of Cornwall. They work with people and partnerships across Cornwall to find creative ways of putting this into practice.