Overcome barriers to Net Zero innovation with independent performance validation, real-world consumer insights, business model analysis and system integration

 

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Affordable demonstration and simulation

Real-world or simulation, product or service, government or start-up – our test and demonstration environments allow innovation to flourish.

The Living Lab is a national facility of over 1,700 connected homes providing space for innovators, industry, government and regulators to trial new technologies, products, services, business models, policies and regulations under simulated in-market arrangements with real consumers.

Home Truths® is our consumer panel of thousands of people who can help you better understand customer needs supported by experts in consumer insight, business modelling and energy system engineering.

And Home Energy Dynamics is a first-of a-kind dynamic simulation tool that explores how low carbon heating solutions interact and perform with other energy efficiency measures.

Trial your innovation with real consumers in their homes

We offer quick, safe and affordable real-world testing of new energy products, services and business models to de-risk and scale innovations for market. Our Living Lab of over 1,700 digitally connected smart-homes, is truly open, interoperable and scalable.

Consumer research backed by energy experts

Understanding consumers is vital to designing and deploying better products and services. Get rapid, cost-effective consumer feedback on your product, service or policy idea with our Home Truths® consumer panel.

Try simulation before demonstration

Before committing to real-world trials, we can simulate how your product will interact with a range of housing types, including heating systems, smart controls, building fabrics, weather and consumer profiles to help determine efficiencies and cost effectiveness.

What we offer

Energy Systems Catapult offers a range of labs, tools and expertise drawing on cutting-edge data science, whole systems modelling and in-depth consumer insight to help innovators accelerate to market.

Case Studies

Testing a Virtual Power Plant with 250 electric vehicle drivers

Manchester-based Evergreen Smart Power are an innovative Virtual Power Plant business, aggregating and controlling domestic energy loads resulting from electric vehicles (EVs) and heating to suit specific customer, market, generation and grid conditions.

Evergreen’s EV solution can respond to grid conditions, moving charging to off-peak hours to reduce strain on the network at peak times, while ensuring that EVs are sufficiently charged when needed. The solution also optimises other loads, such as heat pumps and electric heaters.

Energy Launchpad helped Evergreen develop their future roadmap through competitive landscaping, consumer insights/trial and detailed analysis with our Business Model Innovation team. This examined alternative target markets and revenue streams. Outputs were developed to be used for pitches to future investors.

Following this incubation support, Energy Systems Catapult then helped Evergreen develop and deliver a follow-on test & demonstration project called Flexibly-Responsive Energy Delivery with 250 consumers driving and smart-charging EVs at home – supported by our Consumer Insight team.

Evergreen Smart Power Co-Founder Andy McKay said: “Prior to this piece of work we had one main product. In effect this has identified two new product variants that address innovative opportunities and other areas that will move quicker than our long term market. This will translate into 3 separate platforms requiring separate teams.

“Energy Launchpad has allowed us to tap into a wide range of energy sector industry expertise with a support package tailored to our specific needs. It’s an opportunity every energy start-up would benefit from.”

Watch the case study:

How to work with us

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.

Collaborate with us: We work with partners from the public and private sectors to secure funding and collectively deliver the innovation projects and thought leadership that tackle the hardest challenges in the way to Net Zero.

Commission us: We offer independent support, evidence and insights – with technical, commercial and policy expertise – to identify and deliver Net Zero innovation priorities. Then actively support clients to develop actionable plans for implementation.

Contact us

If you are interested in working with us, contact us by completing the form and one of the team will be in touch.

Contact us

Want to know more?

Find out more about how Energy Systems Catapult can help you and your teams