Independent thought leadership and practical expertise that harnesses digital innovation to tackle the hardest challenges on the way to Net Zero
Accelerating to Net Zero with digital and data innovation
As an independent convener we help innovators, industry, government and regulators to design the future energy system by providing evidence and insight that shapes digitalisation policy, regulations, business strategy and best practice.
We collaborate on innovative research and development that supports clean companies to flourish by tackling some of the hardest challenges to achieving Net Zero.
While digital innovators developing new products, services and business models draw on our practical, whole systems approach that offers affordable access to expert analysis, tools and testing labs.
Thought Leadership and Strategy
As an independent convener taking a whole systems approach, we help industry government and regulators to design the future energy system – including sector leadership of the Energy Data and Energy Digitalisation Taskforces.
Acting as a Digital Catalyst
We collaborate with innovative organisations to tackle some of the hardest and most critical challenges facing the energy transition, such as Artificial Intelligence for Energy, developing Digital Twins, and Modernising Energy Data.
Supporting Digital Innovators
Innovators developing new digital products, services and business models can test them directly with consumers in our Living Lab of over 500 connected homes to make low carbon better and more desirable than current offerings.
What we offer
Energy Systems Catapult offers a range of expertise, tools and labs, such as data science, algorithms and artificial intelligence.
Data Science
Using cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, our data scientists enable real-time decision-making and complex data analytics from trials in our Living Lab.
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Digital & Data Systems
Exploring how digital technologies and data can support the new functions and business models required for transition to a Net Zero energy system.
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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.
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Energy Launchpad
Turning clean energy innovators into entrepreneurs. Propelling SMEs step-by-step through technical validation towards commercial vindication.
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Our Data
Gain evidence and insights by exploring our datasets from innovation projects, including the UK's largest smart, consumer-focused trials on heat and and electric vehicle charging.
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Digital Energy Fitness Assessments
Assessing the digital readiness of companies, measured across five categories: Digital Infrastructure Technology Operations, Insight & Value-Add, and Culture.
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How to work with us
Energy Systems Catapult provides technical, commercial and policy expertise to drive innovation across the whole energy system.
Our independent and technology-agnostic approach, has built a trusted track record in delivering thought leadership, collaborative R&D and commercial commissioning.
Providing a range of 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.
Commission us
Supporting energy companies and networks, industrial sites and commercial businesses to navigate to Net Zero.
Collaborate with us
Supporting government, local authorities and innovators to create the new policies, markets, business models and technologies we need to deliver Net Zero.
Case Studies
Presumed Open Data challenge
Distribution network operator, Western Power Distribution, commissioned Energy Systems Catapult to help run their Presumed Open Data challenge to demonstrate value in increasing data accessibility.
WPD had a 6MWh/2.5MW battery connected to a primary distribution substation and a 5MW solar farm in Devon, southwest England.
The challenge was to design the week-ahead control of a storage device to support the distribution network to:
- Maximise the daily evening peak reduction
- Use as much solar photovoltaic energy as possible
- Temperature and irradiance (reanalysis) data from multiple grid points
- Challenge assessed over four weekly tasks plus one practice challenge
Outcomes of the challenge included:
- 365 Registrations for the kick-off event with individuals come from 72 different organisations/institutions, 15 different countries and 30 universities
- 55 teams – a total of 142 individuals – participated in a least one round
- By the 5th round of tasks, 37 teams survived and and of those 65% outscored the benchmark with the Top 5 teams participating in a special “Value in Energy Data Seminar”.
Energy Launchpad
Places for People collaborated with our Energy Launchpad to identify digital innovators that were developing products and services targeted at Zero Carbon Smart Buildings and Estates, to receive tailored business incubation and acceleration support.
Julie Alexander, Director of Technology & Innovation at Places for People said: “Climate change is the most pressing challenge of our time, and with the construction sector and buildings being the most prolific polluters.”
“Engaging with the supply chain is the starting point. We want to identify technologies and business models we can deploy that are effective, and deliverable.”
Places for People were focused on developing interoperability across systems, using intelligent infrastructure to help them manage demand and supply and identifying new business models that will allow deployment at scale.
The Innovator Challenge run by Energy Launchpad identified seven SMEs and each worked with the Catapult and Places for People to develop their innovations.
Digital Readiness Fitness Assessment
Equiwatt incentivises consumers to save energy at peak times through an app-based rewards scheme, by using smart meter data to monitor household energy use and automatically turn-off appliances to reduce demand during peak times.
The Newcastle-based innovator needed help preparing for an investment round and to scale up their customer base.
Energy Systems Catapult carried out a Digital Energy Fitness Assessment, along with reviews of their Business Model, their Policy and Regulatory landscape, Consumer Insight and support with investor readiness.
Equiwatt found the inclusion of an independent Digital Energy Fitness Assessment was a crucial factor in helping secure over £300,000 in investment to progress scale up plans through a funding round involving the North East Venture Fund.
Living Lab & Data Science
Amp X are developing an autonomous, digital energy assistant ‘ALICE’ with a trial in the Living Lab. The ALICE platform aims to help UK households reduce their energy costs and carbon intensity through autonomous demand-side-response decisions based on real-world market signals.
ALICE will schedule energy usage by household devices’ when the energy is greenest and cheapest, with the aim that households could benefit by providing flexibility to local networks to improve grid resilience and maximise renewable energy usage.
The trial sees the ALICE energy assistant installed in 60 Living Lab homes with support from:
- Consumer Insight specialists to understand household experiences, test the benefits and to understand the customer value proposition
- Data Science expertise to test the interface between the ALICE and a variety of in-home devices, including: Electric Vehicles chargers, smart meters, Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning controls, and general appliances.
Commission us
Supporting the development of digitalisation strategies and best practice in collecting and using data for maximum value.
Contact usCollaborate with us
Exploring opportunities to work with innovators on Artificial Intelligence for Energy, developing Digital Twins, and Modernising Energy Data.
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