Energy Systems Catapult is set to join an expert consortium supporting SME innovators as part of the UK government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

What is the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio consortium?

Led by the Carbon Trust, the consortium will deliver acceleration support to up to 200 SMEs, including business development advice, practical workshops, peer-to-peer learning and access to stakeholder and investor networks. The initiative aims to help these innovative companies make the most of the funding provided by NZIP and enable them to commercialise at speed and scale.

In leading the design and delivery of the NZIP Acceleration Support, the Carbon Trust is joined not only by the Catapult but a range of other partners including Eigen Ventures, Mott Macdonald and KPMG. Specialist support will also be provided by clean tech investor Sustainable Ventures, technical consultancy E4tech, product development specialists High Value Manufacturing Catapult, international patent and trademark consultancy Novagraaf, marketing and communications experts Greenhouse and legal specialist dwf.

Acceleration support complements low carbon technology development and demonstration funding by catalysing impact and helping businesses to prepare to scale. The package developed by the consortium is tailored, flexible, and agile. It has been designed to secure customers and catalyse the funding and partnerships necessary to help businesses grow and develop the clean technology systems and solutions vital to meeting the UK’s net zero by 2050 commitments.

Our net zero innovation programmes

Energy Systems Catapult’s Energy Launchpad also supports SMEs through a number of other UK and international accelerator and incubator programmes, including most recently the Climate Innovation Platform in partnership with HSBC and the University of Birmingham.

The Catapult is also currently leading two NZIP-funded initiatives, including a battery storage project to help reduce wind power curtailment and a project to boost UK homes’ long duration energy storage potential.

David Aitken, Director Innovation at the Carbon Trust, said:

“We know funding and the existence of promising technologies alone are not enough to move at the speed and scale needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The new Net Zero Innovation Portfolio Acceleration Support will enable access to the customers, cash and collaborations that are critical to moving beyond business as usual and to unlocking the full potential of clean technology innovators across the UK.“

Paul Jordan, Energy Launchpad business lead at Energy Systems Catapult, said:

“SME innovators are a key driving force in getting the UK to net zero, but they often need support to help unlock the potential they have to offer. Over the first three years of the Energy Launchpad, we’ve successfully shown the impact SMEs gain from our whole systems approach, and we’re proud to be bringing this expertise to this new initiative.

NZIP Acceleration Support will give a real boost to businesses in the coming years to help them innovate and grow, and ultimately contribute to the UK’s decarbonisation journey.”