Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan has opened a pioneering hydrogen energy research and demonstration centre in Baglan Energy Park, Port Talbot.

The Baglan Energy Park Hydrogen Demonstration project has been developed by the University of Glamorgan in partnership with Neath Port Talbot Council to demonstrate the viability and safety of producing hydrogen from indigenous renewable resources in Wales.

The £2.2m centre, which benefited from £10.05m of Objective 1 funding through the Welsh Assembly Government, will become a world-leading research facility and demonstration project integrating well proven renewable energy technologies (solar photovoltaic and wind) with hydrogen production, energy storage and fuel cell technologies.

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It will provide a number of opportunities for academic and industry research as well as prospects for public demonstration and organisational training. The centre can also host conferencing, demonstration and education activities.

The First Minister said: "If hydrogen becomes widely used as a fuel, the potential for developing new industry associated with hydrogen energy is massive. This centre is also intended to be a platform for new business growth in this exciting new technology.

"The location of the centre has been specifically chosen for this purpose, enabling new and related businesses to collaborate with the University at the centre and to develop their businesses at the same time."

(JM/KMcA)