THE CARBON TRUST - a not for profit company set up by the government in 2001 to promote low carbon emission solutions for business - has been making investments in south east Wales.

The trust has up to £70 million available in grant aid and is inviting Gwent companies and organisations to apply for support.

Caerphilly-based Portico Software has been backed in its prototyping of a software programme enabling companies to measure their production processes across a range of criteria including energy consumption.

The software helps companies identify lower energy solutions which will save them money and qualify them for climate change levy (CCL) rebate.

Portico has already helped Midlands-based Bromford Iron & Steel to reach its 2008 carbon emissions target after only 22 months.

The company achieved a 17 per cent reduction in carbon emissions worth £40,000 in tax savings.

Obviously the greatest beneficiaries of Portico's software will be the energy-intensive industries such as steel, aluminium, cement, ceramics chemicals, glass, paper, food and beverages.

A research study led by professors Freda and Dennis Hawkes at the University of Glamorgan is assessing the feasibility of producing a low pollution, gaseous biofuel - hydrogen - from starch.

The Carbon Trust has awarded it £76,000.

The Hawkes' study will attempt to determine how hydrogen can be generated in a stable way over long periods of time.

It will also explore how the quantities produced can be maximised.

The commercial output is the viability of generating hydrogen via sustainable technology so it can be used as a fleet transport fuel.

The manager of Carbon Trust Wales, Annie Thomp-sett, said: "I hope news of these initial investments will help to attract other Wales-based businesses and organisations to submit proposals for additional funding."

Further information is available via Carbon Trust's website at www.thecarbontrust.co.uk

* Pictured, researchers at the University of Glamorgan explore methods of getting hydrogen from starch