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You must be developing a technology that aligns with one of our focus areas.
CRITERIA
- 1
Have a novel technology within scope
Applicants must be developing a novel clean energy technology which is fully owned by the startup.
- 2
Be pre-commercial, TRL 3-6
The technology that the applicant company is applying with must be at a technology readiness level (TRL) of between 3 (experimental proof of concept) and 6 (technology prototype demonstrated in a relevant environment). You can still apply if your company has other technologies that are at a higher TRL, but the technology you apply with must be TRL 3-6.
- 3
Create impact
All technologies accepted to the programme need to have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. TechX focuses on technologies with industrial applications. Technologies solely with commercial or residential applications are out of scope.
- 4
Actively participate & demonstrate commitment
All startups must commit to actively participating in the programme for the full 14 weeks with at least one member of the team attending all required sessions and meetings. This will include travelling to the UK for three in-person weeks, participating in regular online workshops based on a GMT time zone, and being available from Monday to Thursday for the full programme.
- 5
Deploy in the UK
All startups must have ambitions to deploy their technologies or create economic impact in the North East of Scotland and the wider UK. The programme accepts startups from around the world, but they will need to set up a UK company and articulate how they plan to benefit the UK.
- 6
Be eligible for funding
All startups must meet the requirements under the UK Subsidy Control Act (2022) to be able to claim funding. The TechX funding of up to £50k must not result in the company exceeding the Minimal Financial Assistance threshold over the last 3 year period.
- 7
Have not applied to TechX more than three times
Startups must not have applied to the TechX Accelerator more than three times with the same technology.
Technology focus area 1
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage
Capture
- Novel solutions for energy efficient and low cost carbon capture – including direct air carbon capture, direct ocean capture and point source capture
Move & Store
- Carbon transport and storage technologies – including efficiencies in the carbon dioxide value chain, material and catalyst innovations, novel storage and injection methods
- Digital technologies which enable low cost and safe transportation and storage – including AI enabled solutions; autonomous and remote operations; measurement, monitoring and verification for carbon removal including carbon storage in nature-based solutions (e.g. enhanced rock weathering); metering; data systems; sensors; leak detection; storage site assessments and mitigation
Use
- Utilisation technologies – including mineralisation, conversion to synthetic fuels, and long duration storage such as building materials & chemicals
Technology focus area 2
Renewables and grid
Generate
- Renewable power technologies – including offshore (floating/fixed) and onshore wind, wave and tidal, and floating solar
- Offshore and onshore geothermal – including reuse of existing wells and the technologies required to do this (e.g. self-sealing cement), and extraction of key metals and minerals
from geothermal brine
Move
- Network infrastructure – including transmission and distribution network technologies, both onshore and offshore
- Digital technologies – including AI enabled solutions, autonomous operations, sensors, ocean data handling, digital twins, satellite imagery and telemetry, and distributed ledger technologies
Store
- Long duration energy storage technologies – including batteries, subsea batteries, flywheel and mechanical storage, thermal storage and gravitational storage
Technology focus area 3
Hydrogen and alternative fuels
Make
- Production of zero or low carbon hydrogen – including novel electrolysers and membranes,
and improved catalysts; natural hydrogen production - Production of alternative fuels, including e-fuels and sustainable fuels (for aviation, maritime and heavy goods road transport applications); power-to-X and low-carbon ammonia and methanol
- Low carbon sources of metals and minerals that are essential for the energy transition
(e.g. battery metals), including deep sea
Move & Store
- Hydrogen transportation and storage – including novel valves and compressors, and novel offshore & subsea storage technologies
- Transportation and storage technologies for alternative fuels
- Digital technologies – including AI enabled solutions, autonomous operations, measurement, leak detection & metering, digital twins, edge computing and data systems
Use
- Utilisation of zero or low carbon hydrogen to replace fossil fuels – including fuel cells for power, combustion turbines, and combined heat and power systems, but excluding transport applications
- Utilisation of alternative fuels and technologies – including retrofitted or redesigned power turbines; and low carbon power trains for transport applications (especially maritime), but excluding passenger road vehicles
Technology focus area 4
Industrial decarbonisation
Manage Emissions
- Technologies to identify and quantify greenhouse gases through measurement and monitoring
Remove Emissions
- Flaring and venting mitigation, and fugitive emissions reductions
- Decarbonising heavy industry, including alternative and lower-carbon generation sources (and particularly modular and scalable solutions); technologies that improve energy efficiency; energy storage solutions including novel battery technology
- Digital technologies – including AI enabled solutions; sensors; monitoring; data systems; robotics and drones for autonomous operations; digital twins and emission reduction optimisation for decarbonising operations
Develop Fossil Fuel Alternatives
- Heating and cooling technologies (excluding geothermal) – including decarbonised industrial and process heat generation, heat storage, decarbonised industrial cooling, use of waste
heat and solar thermal - Onsite decarbonisation solutions to reduce emissions, such as portside power for reduced maritime emissions; and integration of renewables into industrial facilities
- Micro and small modular reactor technologies, including offering improved efficiencies and safety