SMEs developing new energy tech urged to enter competition

Published by

Nicky Godding

The West Midlands-based Energy Systems Catapult is launching an Innovator Challenge for SMEs developing low carbon interoperable energy ideas. The challenge is launched in collaboration with Climate-KIC, a knowledge and innovation community working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy, and supported by Energy Capital – part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) developing innovative products and services that enable the integration of low carbon solutions within complex urban and commercial environments are invited to apply for acceleration support.

Low carbon interoperable energy solutions from across the whole energy system are welcome, and could include, integrating innovative low carbon generation or infrastructure technologies into the building or estate fabric, zero carbon domestic, commercial or industrial heating solutions, leveraging data from end users, infrastructure and networks to create new services and business models that accelerate the transition to net zero, enabling active, interoperable control systems that delivers more efficient and flexible operation of the whole building & estate energy system and delivering cleaner transport solutions.

The Challenge is particularly interested in innovators that are taking a whole system, user-centric approach that can be applied to: reducing fuel poverty, adopting alternative transport systems, creating digital interoperability across the energy system or optimising energy networks supplying West Midlands industry.

Paul Jordan, Innovator Support Platform lead, said: “One of the biggest challenges to achieving the UK’s climate change goals is creating integrated energy systems, delivering low carbon places in which people can live and work.

“Yet smart controls and interoperability between innovations remain a barrier for integrating buildings, estates and the wider energy system.

“We’ve launched this Innovator Challenge with the aim of unleashing products and services that can deliver benefits across the built, commercial and industrial environment for multiple stakeholders – from building occupants and owners to networks, system operators and energy suppliers.”

Aled Thomas, Climate-KIC, said: “The West Midlands is developing ambitious plans and actions to transition to a clean energy system, building on the considerable strengths and expertise in the region.

“EIT Climate-KIC is pleased to be partnering with Energy Systems Catapult and other key stakeholders to deliver this challenge programme which will identify and support innovative companies with a major contribution to catalysing the low carbon transition, responding to real-world challenges in the region.”

The Energy Systems Catapult was set up to accelerate the transformation of the UK’s energy system and ensure UK businesses and consumers capture the opportunities of clean growth. Members of its advisory board include Aston University, University of Birmingham, WMCA, Energy Capital, Engie, National Grid, Minerva, SHAP, Places for People, Cadent Gas, Tyseley Energy Park, Coventry City Council, Climate-KIC, Birmingham City Council.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.