The universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde have joined forces to pool their expertise in the field and set up a joint centre.

The Centre for Economic Renewable Power Delivery aims to make affordable and reliable energy which is generated from water, wind, the sun and decaying biological material.

Sarah Boyack: Transport and Environment Minister

Those behind the initiative - the electronics and electrical engineering departments of both universities and the Strathclyde Business School - believe research will eventually lead to green power being delivered at a price customers want right across Scotland.

The set up costs of around £1m are being met with £620,000 over the next three years from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and additional contributions from both universities.

Scotland's Transport and Environment Minister Sarah Boyack, speaking at the launch of the new centre, said: "Clean, renewable energy must be available, reliable and economic."

And she reaffirmed the Scottish Executive's commitment to promoting renewable energy.

Achieving targets

Ms Boyack said: "At UK level, the Government has committed itself to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

"The Scottish Executive want Scotland to play its full part in achieving that target.

"One of the largest contributors to carbon emissions is the electricity generation industry and it is for that reason we are committed to promoting renewable energy.

"Schemes such as wind power are already being promoted.

"However, more needs to be done and this initiative by the universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde is of great significance."

The project is the first of its kind in the world and brings together multi-disciplinary research.