Climate Innovation Platform launches second Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge

A new application round launched for the second Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge.

The Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre

The Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) has launched the application round for the second Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge, a programme designed for SME innovators who are developing low carbon energy solutions.

Delivered by the University of Birmingham (UoB) in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), the CIP Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge offers successful applicants tailored packages of support to drive the commercialisation of innovative energy products and services.

Supported by HSBC UK and the European Regional Development Fund, applications are welcomed from businesses registered in the UK, particularly those who can take advantage of the Climate Innovation Incubator based at Tyseley Energy Park (TEP), in Birmingham.

Those selected for the second CIP Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge will have access to several linked opportunities:

  • Business engagement support through Birmingham Energy Institute ATETA programme and ESC’s Energy Launchpad Incubation Programme.
  • Incubator project management and incubation space at Tyseley Energy Park, home to the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre (pictured) and Energy Transition Centre and the UK’s first low and zero carbon refuelling station as well as the UK’s largest green hydrogen refuelling facility.
  • Access to a range of commercialisation support activities, including financial planning, start-up mentoring, access to supply chain partner networks, market research, IP strategy, collaboration events, advice on regulation and standards, grant writing and bid development, and investor readiness and introductions.
  • The opportunity to apply into WWF/WRI and HSBC’s Climate Solutions Partnership, the challenge for this year’s global programme being to facilitate systemic change, across the Textile sector, working with the Apparel Institute to decarbonise the industry, providing companies with the ability to shift their supply chains increasing the uptake of natural solutions and alternative fuel sources.

The Climate Solutions Partnership (CSP) is an initiative to make climate solutions a commercial reality, the CSP is a partnership led by HSBC, World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF. SME’s successful in their CSP applications will go on to receive mentorship and connections with universities, research institutes, incubators, and accelerators to help further scale their innovations.

We are delighted to begin recruitment for our second cohort of the Climate Innovation Platform. We are already working with 13 great businesses from cohort one and it will be a pleasure to bring more SMEs onto the programme and support them as they research, test, and grow their innovations.

Professor Martin Freer, director of the Birmingham Energy Institute and Energy Research Accelerator

Paul Jordan, Energy Launchpad business lead at the Energy Systems Catapult said: One of the biggest challenges to achieving the UK’s climate change goals is creating integrated energy systems, delivering Low Carbon Places and supply chains in which people can live and work. This year’s programme will build upon the inaugural year’s progress to help realise Net Zero decarbonisation objectives across a range of transiting market. 

Notes for editors

About Energy Systems Catapult

Energy Systems Catapult was set up to accelerate the transformation of the UK’s energy system and ensure UK businesses and consumers capture the opportunities of clean growth.

The Catapult is an independent, not-for-profit centre of excellence that bridges the gap between industry, government, academia and research. We take a whole-systems view of the energy sector, helping us to identify and address innovation priorities and market barriers, in order to decarbonise the energy system at the lowest cost.

We have around 200 staff based in Birmingham and Derby with a variety of technical, commercial and policy backgrounds. We work with innovators from companies of all sizes to develop, test and scale their ideas. We also collaborate with industry, academia and Government to overcome the systemic barriers of the current energy market to help unleash the potential of new products, services and value chains required to achieve the UK’s clean growth ambitions as set out in the Industrial Strategy.