TWO North Ayrshire companies have received a share of more than £9 million in Scottish Government funding to help industries reduce carbon emissions through decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects.

DSM Nutritional Products, with a manufacturing plant in Dalry, has been awarded a grant of over £2 million from the second round of the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), which launched in December 2020.

Meanwhile, Irvine paper mill UPM Caledonian has secured a grant of between £500,000 and £1 million.

Last month, DSM submitted plans with North Ayrshire Council for a new chemical production and distribution facility which would be used for the manufacture of an animal feed additive.

The proposals could create up to 30 additional jobs at the local site, and the latest funding boost will support the firm in developing its Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) technology.

The company was also awarded a separate grant of up to £250,000 for a heat recovery dichloromethane evaporator and preheat feed effluent columns.

READ MORE: DSM Dalry submits plans for new facility which would create 30 jobs

UPM's grant, meanwhile, will help the firm replace existing pumps with three energy-efficient turbo blowers.

The cash awards were announced during Climate Change Week, which began on Monday, and DSM’s success follows on from the first funding round last year, which saw Irvine-based pharmaceutical company GSK secure a grant in the category of £500,000 - £1 million for new air compressors and control system.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Reducing emissions in our manufacturing sector will be a crucial step in ensuring Scotland reaches its net zero target by 2045.

“I am pleased that the SIETF continues to support companies across the sector to embrace decarbonisation, improve efficiency and reduce their impact on the environment.”

Cunninghame North SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said: “DSM continues to be a hugely important employer and manufacturer to Dalry and North Ayrshire and I congratulate them on this success.

“SIETF supports industrial sites with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future. It will improve the international competitiveness of many companies whilst protecting jobs.

“The third funding round closes on November 18 and I urge North Ayrshire businesses to submit their applications as soon as possible.”