NZTC TechX Accelerator

We have been accepted to participate inNet Zero Technology Centre’s TechX Accelerator, starting in the endof February. Below the text from NZTC’s announcement can be read.

• 12 start-ups with ground-breaking clean energy solutions to receive up to £100,000 funding
• Emerging innovations cover low-carbon hydrogen, alternative fuels, carbon capture and storage, renewable power, decarbonised industrial heat and digital solutions
• ConocoPhillips joins bp, Equinor and ADNOC as a programme sponsor

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has announced its 2024 TechXstart-up cohort. The TechX Clean Energy Accelerator, now in its sixthyear, will welcome 12 high potential start-ups to the programme whichcommences in February.

Each start-up will receive up to£100,000 in funding and access to NZTC’s network of mentors,investors, and sponsors, including bp, Equinor, ADNOC andConocoPhillips, the latter of which joined the programme this year.Start-ups will also benefit from industry support opportunitiesincluding field trials.

The programme leveragesentrepreneurial ingenuity to discover and propel criticaltechnologies required for the energy transition. Following 15 weeksof investor readiness training, refining business models, businessstorytelling and more, the programme will culminate in a Demo Day inJune 2024. This will provide the start-ups with an opportunity toshowcase their solutions to industry and investors, with potential towin further funding.

Following graduation from theprogramme, TechX also provides two additional years of growthsupport, and continued access to NZTC’s network and co-workingfacilities.

The selected start-ups are:

• Airspection: Drones designed for more reliable, more robust and safer offshore infrastructure inspection
• Apleum: Technology to convert renewable energy, carbon dioxide and water into zero carbon jet fuel
• Kali Technology: Carbon-zero industrial process heating using low cost, integrated heat pump technology
• Frontier Robotics: Platform-agnostic software and associated hardware for autonomous underwater inspections
• HyWaves: Power management control system to increase hydrogen production for dedicated solar-to-hydrogen, and lowering cost
• H2CHP: Fuel-flexible power generator targeted at ports offering full control over the combustion process to operate at high efficiency with zero carbon emissions
• INERGIO Technologies: Novel system design that combines advantages of fuel cells and diesel generators for sustainable off-grid and backup power solutions
• MECHAPRES: High-temperature heat pump with embedded thermal storage for industrial heat decarbonisation, with heat and steam as a service potential
• Modjoule: Smart, battery-equipped containers for cost-effective electrification of shipping vessels
• Reaforma: Leveraging construction waste for secure carbon capture and storage in a novel carbon-negative composite
• Soltropy: Novel solar thermal technology for buildings that harvests carbon neutral heat all year round
• SurreyH2: Lower cost green hydrogen production technology using a recirculating catalyst, with intrinsic hydrogen storage capability

To date, 57 start-ups have been supported through the programme.The alumni have collectively generated £32M in revenue, and created443 new jobs. With seven commercialisations already achieved, TechXalumni companies are demonstrating steady growth, and are forecast toenable 20-25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions savings peryear by 2030.

Chief Acceleration Officer & TechX Director MarkAnderson, said:
“As NZTC welcomes its sixthTechX cohort, we reiterate the pivotal role entrepreneurs will playin accelerating the energy transition.

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

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord,said:
“Congratulations to those selected for theTechX Clean Energy Accelerator programme. Start-up companies play afundamental role in driving innovation in the energy sector,supporting sustainable economic growth, and delivering solutions tothe environmental issues we all face today.

“The UK Government is investing £90 million in the Net ZeroTechnology Centre and more than £2.9 billion to level up rightacross Scotland.”
Scottish Government SmallBusiness, Innovation, Tourism and Trade Minister Richard Lochhead,said:
“This programme has a track record ofsuccess in supporting the development of innovative clean energystart ups.“I look forward to learning about the progress of fledglingbusinesses joining the TechX programme this year, with ScottishGovernment support through our £90 million Aberdeen City Region Dealinvestment in the NZTC. “Scotland can become one of the world’s most innovativesmall nations and drive entrepreneurship and a fair, green andgrowing economy.”

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