Ventive started out as a designer and manufacturer of innovative passive ventilation systems, before expanding into developing a smart, zero carbon home solution, that includes: low carbon heating and cooling, electrical and thermal energy storage, hot and cold water and ventilation all in one box – Ventive Home.

Following a rigorous Innovator Challenge application process of SMEs developing innovative smart heating and cooling solutions, Energy Launchpad selected Ventive to receive support for commercial development.

With different market segments at varying stages of readiness for complex retrofit solutions, innovative business models are required to finance and deliver improved consumer services.

So the key challenge for Energy Launchpad was to quantify the market opportunity, prioritise the sectors based the value being created and then develop the commercial model and route to market.

• Ventive secured a pilot project with Nottingham City Council to demonstrate the feasibility of Net Zero retrofitting of social housing at a reasonable cost.
• The tenant gets great indoor air quality, excellent levels of comfort and dramatically lower energy bills.
• The local authority or housing association get a simple to install and cost-effective whole house retrofit solution, with all technologies accessible in the one box plugged into the outside of the home.
• Ventive now has a viable “Comfort-as-a-Service” commercial model that makes Ventive Home more affordable for both tenant and landlord.
• Ultimately Nottingham City Council plan to retrofit around 20,000 homes in response to the climate emergency and Ventive are in a prime position to help them execute that ambition.

Sunamp has developed groundbreaking heat batteries using a patented phase change material that provide the residential market with a low carbon, reliable, space-saving thermal battery storage system.

With dynamic time of use tariffs emerging, households will be able to cut carbon emissions and fuel costs by charging the battery with mains power at times when grid demand and cost is low or by using on-site solar PV. The energy can then be released to deliver space heating, hot water and even cooling on demand.

Following a rigorous Innovator Challenge process, Energy Launchpad delivered for Sunamp:

• Market landscaping
• Innovative service-based Business Models by sector (New Build, Build to Rent, Social Housing Retrofit), exploring the value of integrated smart home solutions.
• Home Energy Dynamic simulations delivering data on optimal configurations of battery size by building and occupancy type.
• Consumer Insights research validating the propositions using in-depth interviews with Housing Directors in social and new build organisations.

This independent verification helped Sunamp evidence the value of installing heat batteries in high rise dwellings with social housing providers.

Sunamp are now gaining traction in this market, having undertaken two product trials that led to confirmed sales, including their biggest single order to date.

Energy Systems Catapult’s support has also helped Sunamp to progress the Technology Readiness Level of their product from 8 to 9.