Apply for our 2024 cohort
If you are a forward-thinking founder with new ideas that can help unlock the next generation of net zero technologies, we want to hear from you.
Deadline extended:
8 October 2023, 23:00 (GMT)
Our TechX Clean Energy Accelerator is an intensive 15-week programme for 12 innovative clean energy start-ups with clear potential to accelerate the transition to an affordable net zero energy industry.
- Up to £100k grant per start-up*
- Open to start-ups globally
- Single or multi-team founders welcome
- Targeting clean energy start-ups at technology readiness level 2 to 6
*Note: the £100,000 grant is repayable under certain circumstances and all participants in the programme must sign an agreement to this effect. Alternatively, through mutual agreement, the Net Zero Technology Centre and participant may sign an advance subscription agreement (also known as a SAFE – Simple Agreement for Future Equity).
Programme Benefits
Receive up to £100,000 grant funding, expert support and mentoring on:
Testing your value proposition and business model with technical experts and potential industrial customers across the value chain.
Creating a prototype or minimum viable product.
Pitching to potential customers at our final showcase Demo Day, where the cohort competes to win a share of £200K in cash prizes.
Securing field trials to pilot your solution with the industry including bp, Equinor, ADNOC and our other partners.
Structuring capital raising and pitches to investors, before putting it into practice in investor meetings.
Building diverse teams.
Connecting into the Net Zero Technology Centre’s extensive energy industry network and maximising the benefit.
Articulating your start-up story and developing your brand.
Structuring your business optimally from a legal and tax perspective.
Calculating and demonstrating your technology’s carbon impact.
Protecting your IP, developing an IP strategy and applying for patents.
Growing your company with an additional two years of business support and co-working space.
Testing your value proposition and business model with technical experts and potential industrial customers across the value chain.
Creating a prototype or minimum viable product.
Pitching to potential customers at our final showcase Demo Day, where the cohort competes to win a share of £200K in cash prizes.
Securing field trials to pilot your solution with the industry including bp, Equinor, ADNOC and our other partners.
Structuring capital raising and pitches to investors, before putting it into practice in investor meetings.
Building diverse teams.
Connecting into the Net Zero Technology Centre’s extensive energy industry network and maximising the benefit.
Articulating your start-up story and developing your brand.
Structuring your business optimally from a legal and tax perspective.
Calculating and demonstrating your technology’s carbon impact.
Protecting your IP, developing an IP strategy and applying for patents.
Growing your company with an additional two years of business support and co-working space.
Our technology focus areas
- CCUS and carbon removal solutions
- Low carbon hydrogen
- Alternative fuels and green chemicals
- Renewable power: offshore and onshore
- Digital solutions
- Decarbonised heat and cooling, & other
Global partners
We draw on expertise and support from our global partner network. From provision of workshops and delivery sessions, to potential customers who can advance technology and prototype development, our partners are key to unlocking the success of our start-ups.
Our Strategic Partners bp, Equinor Ventures and ADNOC provide our start-ups with access to technology experts, investment opportunities and the potential for field trials.
Our Professional Services Partner Accenture supports the TechX team and gives our start-ups expert tutoring during the 15-week programme.
£88M+
in equity funding raised by start-ups
£15M+
in revenue generated
200+
employees hired
8
start-ups commercialised
We have established a community of 57 disruptive start-ups that are actively growing. Explore how they are shaping a net zero future.
Actuation Lab
Actuation Lab
Working with the UK’s National Composites Centre, Actuation Lab is developing high performance, maintenance free, corrosion resistant actuators that are designed to survive in the world’s most extreme environments.
Actuation Lab are working with NZTC’s Solution Centre on a project to develop their non-contact, maintenance-free valve mechanism. This technology can be utilised for a range of applications including hydrogen containment.
Carnot
Carnot
Carnot is developing ceramic engines with double the efficiency and half the fuel consumption/CO2 emissions of current engines. Key target markets are generators and marine/automotive propulsion. The engine will be developed to run on all fuels including biofuels and hydrogen.
Creid 7
Creid 7
Creid7 offers a Wellhead Installation and Integrity Inspection Tool to validate correct installation of equipment in real time while characterising seal condition. Creid 7 has filed a UK patent and PCT application, and was awarded a £100k Scottish Enterprise SMART feasibility grant to further develop this technology.
Epoch Biodesign
Epoch Biodesign
Epoch Biodesign is developing a patent-pending enzyme for the low-energy bio-recycling of plastics into valuable chemicals. Through this, the company is facilitating and accelerating the transition to a carbon-negative future.
Mission Zero
Mission Zero
Mission Zero is developing novel, bio-inspired, and low-energy CO2 capture that is cost-competitive at all scales, works with air and point sources, and integrates into the CO2 value chain to connect with emitters and consumers, from the energy sector to the food & beverage industry. Through this, we are facilitating and accelerating the transition to a carbon-negative future.
Mission Zero are working with NZTC’s Solution Centre on a project to research and develop their direct air capture technology. This includes material investigation and optimisation of their design.
Nudge Talent Lab
Nudge Talent Lab
Nudge Talent Lab has developed a software that improves the way the energy and clean tech sectors attracts, engages, assesses, and onboards talent into their organisations and projects. We use an innovative approach that means the software is flexible to your needs whether you are searching for a senior hire to join you on your mission, a Non-Exec to support and guide or a piping designer for a 6 month assignment you can source them on nudge talent lab.
PipelineSentry
PipelineSentry
PipelineSentry offer a cloud based platform for digitising data, linking data sets via locations and time and providing context through the introduction of engineering equations. The automation of finite element analysis allows for rapid engineering assessments. As the dataset grows, their customers will benefit from the use of predictive analytics and utilising AI to assist in data driven integrity planning.
PipelineSentry won the TechX Performance Award during their participation in Cohort 3 of the TechX Accelerator programme.
Puls8
Puls8
Puls8 have an alternative solution to traditional verification of piping and tubing which can be time-consuming, expensive and unsafe.
Their non-invasive tooling identifies piping, small bore tubing, hoses and armoured cable and can be used across multiple industries.
Coupled with their survey app there are clear net zero benefits for ongoing and future operations.
Puls8 won the bp Technology Award during their participation in Cohort 3 of the TechX Accelerator programme.
Puls8 worked with NZTC’s Solution Centre on a project to develop both the hardware and software elements of their piping and tubing verification technology. Puls8 subsequently performed trialling and testing in collaboration with NZTC.
QLM
QLM
QLM is developing sensitive and low cost technology to detect emissions of methane at long ranges through the use of lasers. This will enable the oil and gas industry to cost effectively identify and quantify fugitive emissions of methane to cut the carbon footprint of natural gas. The technology has been successfully trialled at the National Physics Laboratory.
sHYp
sHYp
sHYp is developing a solution that allows for storage of surplus energy from offshore wind farms and oil rigs in the form of green hydrogen, produced from sea water, to provide grid stabilisation as well as fuel for the maritime industry.
sHYp are working with NZTC’s Solution Centre on a project to develop their patented membrane-less electrolyser that can be used to generate green hydrogen directly from seawater. Together, they are constructing and testing a small-scale prototype system.
Steel Space Drilling
Steel Space Drilling
A single run, downhole powered, casing drilling tool with a design that uses a simple but revolutionary technique of using multiple slim hole positive displacement motors mounted on the casing string to drive a single casing drilling shoe. To compliment this tool, a steerable design is also being developed which has the potential to revolutionise well construction and challenges the use of drill pipe completely.
Supercritical
Supercritical
A radical redesign of the electrolyser to reduce electrical consumption using heat which can be sourced from waste or low carbon sources. This makes Supercritical perfectly suited to integrating with heavy industries to utilise their waste and decarbonise their operations as well as delivering low-cost hydrogen wherever it’s needed.
Supercritical are working with NZTC’s Solution Centre on a project to develop their high pressure hydrogen electrolyser. This involves testing of their prototype to improve durability and performance.
