UK govt awards GBP 19m to green tech entrepreneurs

The UK government today announced the award of GBP 19 million (USD 22.8m/EUR 21.3m) in funding to 37 firms across the UK to develop greener technologies that could contribute to carbon emissions reduction and contribute to security of supply

This marks the ninth allocation of the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, which is part of the government’s GBP-1-billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

The recipients include small and medium sized enterprises and start-ups, with the projects focused on technologies such as offshore wind robotic inspectors, solar bricks, offshore wind communications and tech for decommissioning oil wells. Among them are Cornwall-based Inductive Power Projection Ltd, which will develop a wireless charging demonstrator to power floating off-shore wind autonomous “robotic” drones, to inspect and maintain offshore wind farms.

Build Solar Ltd, a spin out from Exeter University, seeks to develop a low-cost glass brick for buildings to generate solar energy through their walls. Jet Engineering System Solutions will develop a 5G floating network for communications at sea to support wind farm installation.

Simultaneously, the government said it will launch in the summer a GBP-5-million Local Industrial Decarbonation Plans competition to encourage industrial businesses to join together in "clusters" and, along with other stakeholders like local authorities, to develop plans.

(GBP 1 = USD 1.198/EUR 1.119)

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