The next generation of green systems aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of commercial and residential premises in the West Midlands are being developed through a new business programme.
Eighteen innovative SMEs from across the country have been chosen to take part in an accelerator programme which will strive to help the region become a leader in developing 'net zero' systems for buildings, commercial estates and industry.
Called Innovator Challenge, it will be run by Birmingham-based, government-backed agency Energy Systems Catapult in collaboration with Climate-KIC and supported by Energy Capital, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Among the concepts being developed are smart ventilation control to reduce heat loss, services that match generation with electricity demand and a system that stops heating empty rooms.
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Scroll down to see the full list
The 18 will get access to a range of expertise and specialist support to help them unlock new routes to market and secure investment.
Members of the Innovator Challenge's advisory board, which includes representatives from Aston University, University of Birmingham and National Grid, will introduce the SMEs to potential partners working on innovation projects across the West Midlands.
Paul Jordan, business lead for Energy Launchpad at Energy Systems Catapult, said: "Achieving net zero will require close co-ordination across the energy system and, arguably most crucially, between the built environment, transport infrastructure, industry and commercial energy consumers.
"Innovation that enables an interoperable relationship across sectors, consumers, technology, generators and distributors is fundamental.
"Delivering low carbon energy solutions, while simultaneously creating economic benefits to the wider community while lowering energy and running costs, will be crucial in achieving the UK's Net Zero goal."
The 18 SMEs taking part in the Innovator Challenge are:
Advanced Infrastructure
Enable energy suppliers to personalise energy through a data service which can be used to form hyper-local, personalised billing
Airex
Has developed a smart ventilation control to reduce heat loss from homes while also managing indoor air quality
BankEnergi
Creating bankable energy assets in a unique, end-to-end trading product which encompasses working with end users to provide energy and flexibility services along the value chain
Block Dox
Has a patented technology that uses the Internet of Things, machine and deep learning data science to help make spaces smarter
Carnego Systems
Collects, stores and analyses real-time data from buildings to determine whether they work as designed
City Science
Independent firm of software developers creating energy products and services to reduce waste and improve efficiency
Connected Response
Offers a range of control and metering technologies to deliver flexibility services that match renewal generation with electricity demand
Cumulus Energy Storage
Aims to be the leading manufacturer and developer of grid-level energy storage batteries with the lowest level cost of storage globally
De-CO2
A new start-up that helps consumers reduce the energy use and carbon emissions from their homes by leveraging machine learning to develop bespoke retrofit plans
eCloudS
Has developed a platform that uses data and optimisation controls to reduce costs and carbon emissions of major energy users which can integrate into a new-build development or be retrofitted
EcoSync
Aims to reduce carbon emissions, energy cost and waste by stopping heating empty rooms
GridDuck
A low-cost energy management system utilising wireless hardware and online dashboard to offer consumption monitoring and analysis, remote control and automation
Gridedge
Offers efficiency and flexibility technologies to harness a building's data to deliver cost savings and reduce emissions
Q-Bot
Supplies contractors with a range of intelligent tools that identify the needs of each property, automate repetitive tasks and track the work done
Rotaheat
Has developed a patented heating technology that converts power into clean thermal energy in the form of heated fluids
SEaB Energy
Offers on-site energy from waste technology which are suited to small and medium sites that produce up to three tonnes of organic waste per day
Surple
Offers energy management software that connects to electricity, gas, water and generation data, allowing the monitoring and management of energy data in one place
Tepeo
Developing a new heating technology to help deliver zero carbon domestic heating while supporting the transition to a decarbonised electricity grid
