Energy Systems Catapult is here to help innovative businesses tackle the most difficult challenges facing the energy sector, as the UK moves to a net zero economy.

That means using the unique set of capabilities we have built up over the past four years to help SMEs and large companies think about what the future of energy will look like – and to help them develop new products and services that will capture the commercial opportunity of this transformation. It also means working with government and regulators to design markets, policies  and regulation that can unleash the innovation we need.

Innovators can work with us in a number of ways. They can access our whole system modelling expertise at every scale from a national UK energy system model. They can use our systems integration capability, exploring how the energy system of the future will fit together with simulation techniques to explore future worlds. Or they could harness the expertise we have developed in carrying out real world trials to understand how consumers actually behave and react to new products, using facilities like our 100-home Living Lab.

Last year saw a big focus on delivery for the Catapult, sealing our reputation with innovators as an essential partner. We have worked with energy suppliers to develop new propositions which are being deployed in the market. We have worked with product innovators to test how their technologies perform in real people’s homes. And we have piloted innovative new approaches, such as energy-as-a-service and local area energy planning, which we think could be essential to the energy market of the future.

Achieving a net zero economy in an affordable way, that goes with the grain of consumer behaviour, understands the complex infrastructure challenges, and can help innovators unlock the value in energy markets of the future is going to require innovation on an unprecedented scale. At the same time, industry has to come to terms with both the potential and risks of digital technologies and data as
they begin to disrupt the energy sector in the same way they have done to so many other sectors.

Energy Systems Catapult’s mission is to be at the centre of this transition as a trusted partner for businesses as they chart their course to the future, low carbon energy system.

Key points

Energy Systems Catapult is here to help innovative businesses tackle the most difficult challenges facing the energy sector, as the UK moves to a net zero economy and during 2018-19:

• Innovator Support – Engaged with 228 businesses, including collaborating with 88 industrial partners and providing significant support for 37 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) through our Innovator Support Platform,. Which provided tailored incubation and acceleration support as they develop new products and services and grow their businesses. SME featured include: Evergreen, Neuville and Levelise.
• Heat – Delivered the UK’s largest smart, consumer-focused project aimed at overcoming the barriers to the decarbonisation of residential heat. The £30 million, five-year Smart Systems and Heat programme (SSH) piloted a new way to sell heating. Modelling, Digital and Data, and Consumer Insight capabilities were refined – alongside the creation of a ‘Living Lab’ of over 100 homes upgraded with advanced digital control and data science. Business featured include: Baxi, Bristol Energy and Airex.
• Digital and Data – we developed our range of digital and data assets and expertise, such as data science, algorithms and AI, alongside a Living Lab helped innovators develop new products, services and business models and trial them directly with consumers. Projects featured include: Energy Data Taskforce.
• Transport – we developed significant transport expertise, including in modelling, analysis and consumer insight. Projects featured include: Consumers, Vehicles and Energy Integration and Vehicle to Grid Britain.