New cohort of start-ups to accelerate the transition to net zero announced

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has announced its cohort for the TechX Clean Energy Accelerator. 

Celebrating its sixth edition, the clean energy accelerator programme will fund 12 new start-ups. 

Projects range from carbon capture and storage to using technology to recycle energy and decarbonised industrial heat. 

Each will be allocated up to £100,000 in funding and receive support from a pool of experts. 

TechX director Mark Anderson said: “As NZTC welcomes its sixth TechX cohort, we reiterate the pivotal role entrepreneurs will play in accelerating the energy transition. 

“This year's cohort introduces compelling innovations, offering solutions to propel the adoption of clean and affordable energy. TechX start-ups are the companies of the future, poised to reshape the energy landscape and help lead us towards net zero.” 

Mentors, investors, and sponsors that will offer support to the start-ups include BP, Equinor, ADNOC and ConocoPhillips, the latter of which joined the programme this year. 

Entrepreneurs will also benefit from industry support opportunities including field trials. 

Each project will undergo 15 weeks of investor readiness training, refining business models, business storytelling and more, with the demonstration day taking place next June - where entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to win further funding. 

Once the programme is over, TechX will support the cohort for two additional years and give them continued access to NZTC’s network and co-working facilities. 

Amongst the selected startups are Airspection, which will develop drones to enhance offshore infrastructure inspection, and Soltropy who will use solar thermal technology for buildings to harvest carbon-neutral heat all year round. 

Climate tech manufacturer, Reaforma will use construction waste for secure carbon capture and storage in a novel carbon-negative composite, while Edinburgh-based firm Frontier Robotics will create platform-agnostic technology for autonomous underwater inspections. 

Other start-ups will use technology to convert renewable energy into carbon jet fuel, create low-cost green heating and build smart containers for the electrification of shipping vessels. 

To date, 57 start-ups have been supported through the programme and have generated more than £30m in revenue. 

With seven commercialisations already achieved, TechX alumni companies are estimated to cut 20-25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2030.