Managing collaborative, complex innovation trials that tackle the hardest challenges on the way to Net Zero
Scaling innovation to accelerate Net Zero
Energy Systems Catapult works with industry, academia, and national and local governments to deliver complex energy innovation programmes and projects focused on the clean energy transition.
Taking creative approach to overcoming barriers to innovation; acting where existing markets are not achieving decarbonisation goals and focus on solutions that can be scaled up to have a national impact.
We work collaboratively across the sector partners to scope, develop, identify funding and deliver innovation projects and programmes with a focus on:
- Decarbonisation of domestic and non-domestic buildings
- Development of Energy as a Service applications
- Delivery of targeted retrofit measures for energy efficient, low carbon heating
- Decarbonising new build homes
- Energy systems integration (connected homes, heat and EV)
- Application of aggregation and digitalisation as an enabler for flexibility.
Centre of Excellence
Our Major Programmes team delivers large, complex, innovative, multi-capability decarbonisation projects on time and on budget.
Complex collaborations
A proven track record of leading complex consortia, using an agile approach to manage the uncertainty related to innovation, while calling upon the specialist, expert capabilities of the wider Energy Systems Catapult.
What we offer
Energy Systems Catapult draws trusted experience and a range of expertise, models, tools and labs to deliver large scale innovation trials.
Living Lab
Quick, safe and affordable. Rapidly design, market-test and launch innovative energy products, services and business models with real people in over 500 connected homes.
Learn more
Consumer Insight & Proposition Design
Energy market research, user experience (UX) and service design, and consumer trials. Helping innovators see beyond what people say to understand what they do.
Learn more
Business Model Innovation
Well-designed business models help companies to de-risk new innovations, streamline operations and maximise the value they create for customers.
Learn more
Harnessing Digital and Data
Utilise a range of services, tools and expertise, such as data science, algorithms and artificial intelligence or access existing consumer and technical data.
Learn more
Whole Systems Modelling
Modelling the complex interactions between the physical, digital and market systems, across power, gas, heat, and transport, from generation to consumers and at the level of home, locally and nationally.
Learn more
Markets, Policy and Regulation
Independent thought leadership combining expertise in clean tech, economics and energy policy design, informed by cutting-edge modelling and evidence-based analysis.
Learn more
Dynamic Energy System Simulation
Utilising our groundbreaking EnergyPath® Operations simulation tool to assess system design choices, business models and digital solutions for future system architectures.
Learn more
Skills and Training for Net Zero Homes
Accelerating the market for zero carbon skills and training to drive an unparalleled upgrading of UK housing stock and heating systems.
Learn more
Our Major Programmes
Energy Systems Catapult delivers multi-year, multi-million pound programmes to help decarbonise local places and complex sites.
Project
Energy Revolution Integration Service
Click here for more
Project
Modern Energy Partners
Click here for more
Project
Electrification of Heat UK Demonstration Project
Click here for more
How to work with us
Energy Systems Catapult offers technical, commercial and policy expertise to drive Net Zero innovation across the whole energy system.
We are not-for-profit, independent and technology-agnostic – building a trusted track record of delivering thought leadership, collaborative R&D and commercial commissions – so are uniquely placed to take on the challenges that others cannot tackle.
We use our grant-funding to develop capabilities, tools and labs – from world-class Net Zero modelling and cutting-edge systems engineering, through to digital and data science and real-world innovation trials that drive start-ups to success.
Supporting, convening and advising government, academia, industry, local/regional authorities, investors and SMEs to create new markets that unleash innovation and define the pathway to Net Zero.
Collaborate with us
We work with partners from the public and private sectors to secure funding and collectively deliver the thought leadership and innovation projects that tackle the hardest challenges in the way to Net Zero.
Commission us
We offer technical, commercial and policy expertise through our independent evidence and insights to identify and deliver Net Zero innovation priorities. Then actively support clients to develop actionable plans for implementation.
Case Studies
Collaborate with us
Modern Energy Partners (MEP) was a two-year, £20million innovation pilot exploring how to decarbonise the public sector estate to help the UK Government meet commitments on Net Zero.
From April 2019 to March 2021, the MEP developed a systematic, repeatable and scalable method of enabling large campus-style sites to create quality and value for money approaches to cutting carbon emissions.
The project was a collaborative cross-departmental programme, coordinated and delivered by Energy Systems Catapult and funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Cabinet Office, with additional match funding from pathfinder sites. Delivery contractors included Aecom, Atkins, Buro Happold, Ricardo and Stantec.
MEP utilised a test bed of 42 sites responsible for over 294,000 tCO2e carbon emissions – equating to 8% of Ministry of Defence (MOD), 17% of Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and 6% of NHS sites.
Firstly, rapid data gathering technologies and techniques were deployed to appraise the Net Zero potential of sites – including installing telemetry across 26 sites.
Secondly, a range of tools and templates were developed that allowed 24 sites to create decarbonisation plans that will reduce emissions, on average, by 70% by 2032.
Thirdly, initial carbon reduction works delivered at four pathfinder sites:
-
-
-
- Sheppey Prison Cluster
- HMS Collingwood
- NHS Goole and District Hospital
- Catterick Garrison
-
-
Across the four sites 21,515 LEDs light bulbs were installed, building fabric improvements (e.g. loft and cavity wall insulation) were made and smart Building Management Systems now control 176,990 m2. Together these deliver 9,158,986 kWh, 2,444 tCO2e and £977k saving annually.
Collaborate with us
Energy Systems Catapult has been appointed as Management Contractor for the £16.5 million Electrification of Heat (EoH) Demonstration Project on behalf of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The EoH project aims to overcome barriers to deployment and demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale roll-out of heat pumps in Great Britain by installing the low carbon technology in 750 homes.
The heat pump market in Great Britain is small and research suggests this is partly driven by economics but also due to challenges in current domestic consumer proposition, such as the varying thermal efficiency of the housing stock and extremely high market penetration of gas boilers.
This trial is aiming to increase confidence in the technology to levels that could underpin a public debate and strategic decisions on the future of heat networks.
To support this, the project aims to:
- Develop, test and evaluate products and services that increase the appeal of heat pumps and identify optimal solutions for a wide range of homes.
- Demonstrate that heat pumps, including gas-electric hybrids, can deliver high consumer satisfaction across a wide range of consumers in Great Britain.
- Demonstrate the practical and technical feasibility of heat pumps, including gas-electric hybrids, across Great Britain’s diverse housing stock, as well as identifying the costs.
- Capture learning from the project to help improve awareness across the renewable heating supply chain, raise acceptance and support wider deployment of heat pumps in Great Britain.
Commission us
Energy Systems Catapult delivered the £30m, five-year Smart Systems and Heat (SSH) programme between 2015 and 2019.
SSH Phase 1 – developed capabilities, tools and insights on:
- Local Energy Systems Modelling – we designed a planning framework to help local government, energy networks and other key local stakeholders plan for a low carbon future.
- Consumer-focused propositions – research revealing how the smart technology can help energy providers understand what consumers want from heating, turning passive bill-payers into discerning customers.
- Domestic energy services – we explored how profound changes in energy retail provision, such as selling Heat as a Service instead of purchasing of units of fuel, could drive the uptake of low carbon heating solutions.
SSH Phase 2 – developed capabilities, tools and insights on:
- Consumer trials of smart energy services – create the 100-home Living Lab test environment to investigate how consumers use heat and testing their interest in buying ‘heat as a service’.
- New business models and market structures – looking at new business models for energy services, the importance of interoperability and consumer protection, plus the policy and regulatory context.
- Local Area Energy Planning – took the local energy system modelling work and developed targeted, specific projects that demonstrate the ideas in practice, including Decarbonisation Strategies in the three local areas.
Collaborate with us
Working with national and local governments, industry, academia, and innovators to deliver complex energy innovation programmes focused on the clean energy transition.
Contact usCommission us
Our Major Programmes team acts as a centre of excellence for the delivery of large, complex, innovative, multi-capability decarbonisation programmes and projects on time and on budget.
Contact us