VIDEO: Innovation Zone Competition winner unveiled at edie Live

A pioneering 'virtual energy store' that connects renewable energy to distribution networks has today (17 May) been crowned the winner of edie's Innovation Zone Competition at the edie Live exhibition in Birmingham.


Upside Energy beat nine other forward-thinking companies to win a £6,000 support package, which includes 25 hours of commercialisation support services, from edieLive’s innovation partners Pennington Manches and CLT, for its innovative cloud-based service.

Commenting on the initiative, the Innovation Zone judges said: “This innovation is so much more than a tech launch. It has real impact and huge potential for adoption at scale. It addresses a critical problem, drives immediate results and, crucially, could unlock exponential ‘ripple-effect’ innovation elsewhere.

“Plus, the collaborative approach includes some great partners and creates genuine engagement with the end user, both as energy users and energy generators.”

The Upside Energy project essentially allows companies to sell a range of balancing services from energy stored in renewable systems and electric vehicles to grid and distribution networks, starting with frequency regulation services to National Grid.

It then redistributes 75% of revenue back to the original equipment owners: households and small businesses.

Video: Innovation Zone winner interview with edie editor Luke Nicholls

Innovation Zone: The other finalists

Aceleron

Aceleron is developing the technology to transform end of life electric vehicle (EV) batteries into affordable renewable energy storage. In the UK, more than 3 million kg of battery waste is expected from EVs purchased in the past five years alone. Research has shown that end of life EV batteries typically retain 70% of their energy capacity at end of life. These batteries are currently crushed in the recycling process. If recovered, they retain enough energy to power more than 44,000 average homes in developing regions.

Extreme Low Energy

Since the early days of electricity, transmission was globally standardised on AC (Alternate Current) based power which, until relatively recently, has met our needs. However, in today’s world of computers and mobile phones, which require DC (Direct Current) power, this method of transmission has become extremely inefficient. ELe has designed a method of distributing both power and data using the same cable, allowing the generation of an effective DC infrastructure for the first time.

Flint Engineering ltd

The Flint Engineering replacement shelf is designed for use in retail refrigeration / display cabinets. It allows open-front display cabinets to meet running levels currently only achieved with closed-front units, and reduces running costs by more than 20%.

The shelf is based around the Flint IP protected extruded heat mat which provides an isothermic surface at a commercially viable price. Early prototypes show a 17% reduction in cabinet running costs in retrofit installations. If incorporated into new build, this could be more than 35%.

Hevasure Limited

The challenge for the heating ventilation and cooling industry has been to catch problems before they result in significant failure, leading to buildings becoming unusable. The only previous monitoring method was an invasive water sampling technique, which requires an operator. Hevasure has developed remote condition monitoring for heating and cooling systems in large buildings and district heating schemes, which allows owners and operators to manage energy costs and carbon emissions while reducing risk to valuable assets.

Lindhurst Engineering Ltd

H2AD is a hybrid of anaerobic digestion and microbial fuel cell technology. H2AD cleans waste effluents using microbes to simultaneously produce bioenergy, biogas and fertiliser/reusable liquid, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. H2AD also cleans wastewater, avoiding energy consumption associated with water treatment, so that it can be discharged to the sewer network, avoiding penalties.

NVP Energy Ltd

NVP Energy has developed a unique energy-positive, low-temperature anaerobic digestion technology that cleans low-strength wastewater at temperatures as low as 4°C, whilst recovering valuable high quality biogas that is 100% available for reuse.

Revalutech

Revaluetech has developed a technology which enables mixed plastic waste to be used to manufacture a wide range of composites in place of concrete, wood and metal.

It allows the processing of rejected mixed plastic waste from MRF, PRF, MBT, AD plants and marine litter, currently land filled. The resulting inert composite products offer 60% weight saving compared with their concrete counterparts, are virtually unbreakable and offer far longer, maintenance-free service life compared with the products they replace.

Samad Power Ltd

Samad Power Ltd has developed a micro turbine for domestic CHP boilers, adding up to 2kw of capacity whilst simultaneously providing hot water and space heating for the household. The fundamental challenge to high volume deployment of micro CHP units is the cost to the end user, but micro turbine cost analysis shows a projected installed price of just £3,000 is achievable.

Tevva Motors

The Tevva truck is the world’s first electric range extended truck with dynamic range extender control – the first alternative fuel truck that can fully replace a ‘normal’ diesel truck. With an all-electric range of about 100 miles and an unlimited combined range, the Tevva truck will be cheaper over a five-year total cost of ownership, whilst being able to deliver commercial and operational viability.

Luke Nicholls & Matt Mace

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe