Funding awarded to combat Lough Neagh algae

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has awarded £450,000 to five suppliers to develop solutions for treating and reducing the growth of blue-green algae in Lough Neagh. The selected suppliers are Clear Water Systems Ltd, Helix8 Ltd, Queen’s University Belfast, Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd, and Wholeschool Software Ltd (Biild). The funding is part of the first phase of the Lough Neagh: Blue Green Algae Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which aims to find ways to combat the algae without harming the environment.

DAERA contributed £200,000, while the Department for the Economy provided £250,000 through its SBRI Challenge Fund. The initiative attracted significant interest, with nearly 200 expressions of interest and 53 bids received.

Funding for Lough Neagh algae solutions

The successful applicants will develop proof-of-concept solutions using various methods, such as ultrasonics, mechanical treatment, and biological treatment. Environment Minister Andrew Muir emphasized the complexity and long-term nature of the water quality issues at Lough Neagh, stating that it will take time and resources to restore the lough and improve water quality throughout Northern Ireland. He said, “Water quality issues at Lough Neagh and elsewhere were decades in the making and will take decades to fix.

It is my vision to have a healthy, resilient environment with high water-quality status, and I am firmly committed to taking the necessary action to make a difference to our waterways.”

Economy Minister Conor Murphy also welcomed the appointment of the five suppliers, saying, “My department’s SBRI Challenge Fund supports innovative solutions to complex challenges such as that at Lough Neagh. I welcome DAERA’s appointment of five suppliers to move this research project to the next phase, where potential solutions can be explored and developed.”

The first phase of the project is expected to run until March 2025, with a potential call for phase two applications in the summer of 2025. This initiative is part of a broader 37-point action plan outlined in the Lough Neagh Report, which aims to improve water quality and reduce blue-green algae in the region.