Comment by Charles Parkinson, Senior Insight and Impact Analyst

At the heart of our work is a dedication to driving real-world impact, and there’s nothing more rewarding than witnessing the achievements of the businesses we support. This quarter alone, SMEs who have worked with us have raised close to £6 million in public and private investment, pushing the total since we began working with them to an impressive £610 million.

Among the standout stories: Birmingham’s Grid Edge secured £2.8 million to scale up their energy solutions, while Nuada from Northern Ireland raised €2.5 million to advance their carbon capture technology. Sherwood Power, who we supported through both our Indian programme and a HSBC/University of Birmingham initiative, clinched their first significant order, an impressive contract worth over £1.1 million with a joint venture partner in China.

But investment is only part of the story. We recently piloted the Sherpa Service to help SMEs gain product accreditation, with Atamate, the first to benefit, optimising building performance and leading the way for other innovators. This service is now being extended to support even more bright minds and disruptive businesses.

On the policy front, our Low Carbon Technologies Connect Project, delivered with GreenSync, has made tangible waves. Our recommendation that all appliances sold should be smart-ready as standard was echoed in a new government framework announced by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Now, a range of smart appliances will need to operate across different tariffs, marking a big step forward for smart energy.

As Igor Dremelj, Head of Europe at GreenSync, put it: “Working with The Catapult has been instrumental to our success. Their team’s expertise, extensive network, and unwavering support enabled us to deliver the project on scope, on time, and within budget. The Catapult provided the needed capabilities, insights, as well as access to the Living Lab that took our project to the next level.”

We’re also breaking down barriers in funding health outcomes. Our work on the ScottishPower Warm Home Prescription project has highlighted key challenges, prompting DESNZ to engage with us for practical insights on ECO4 funding. And our innovative Living Lab continues to draw industry attention, gaining coverage in the Financial Times for its work on demand flexibility and in Bloomberg’s analysis of EV charging behaviour.

Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) is another area where our expertise shines. Endorsed by UK100, Cardiff Council, and others, this approach is inspiring new projects and partnerships. For instance, in Leicester, we recently facilitated a data-driven workshop with local authorities and utilities, sparking fresh ideas and collaborations. Meanwhile, the Energy Water Nexus project has released crucial findings about the link between water scarcity and energy infrastructure, paving the way for new partnerships with Ofwat.

AI is reshaping our sector, too. This quarter, we played a pivotal role in selecting finalists for DSIT’s Manchester Prize for AI, keeping the spotlight on solutions to tackle whole energy system challenges. Our team shared key insights at the AI for Energy Grid Summit, highlighting how AI can accelerate climate and energy goals. We continue to champion SMEs like Chameleon Technologies, supporting their development of advanced AI models for home energy optimisation, and AIM Group, who, thanks to our introductions, now have access to vital wind turbine data for their structural integrity technology. The ADViCE programme has secured further government funding, building national networks to fast-track AI innovation in renewables.

Innovation and impact remain at the core of everything we do. As we look to the future, we’re excited for what’s next and proud of the progress these collaborations continue to deliver across the energy sector.

This is just a taste of what we’ve been up to, check out the latest news, blogs, case studies, and reports. Want to be kept up to date? Sign up to our newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn.