West Midlands Clean Growth & Infrastructure R&D Companies Directory

Energy Systems Catapult is a non-profit innovation centre established to accelerate the transformation of the UK energy system towards a net-zero future. They specialise in whole-system modelling, local area energy planning, and the removal of non-technical barriers to the adoption of low-carbon technologies. Their work bridges the gap between academic research, policy, and commercial deployment by providing technical expertise, digital tools, and strategic consultancy to local authorities, network operators, and industry partners.

National Grid Electricity Transmission PLC is a critical infrastructure operator responsible for the high-voltage electricity transmission network across England and Wales. The company focuses on modernising grid operations to support the transition to Net Zero, developing technologies for system strength, asset management, and cross-vector energy integration. Their R&D portfolio has evolved from traditional maintenance to advanced digital twin modelling, AI-driven asset diagnostics, and innovative infrastructure design.

GE Vernova is a global leader in energy and power systems, focusing on the development of advanced electrical machines, power electronics, and integrated drive architectures. Their work spans the decarbonisation of heavy industry, marine, and rail sectors through high-power density electrification and the integration of renewable energy sources. Over their grant history, they have evolved from fundamental marine power system optimisation to leading complex, multi-sector infrastructure projects for net-zero energy hubs.

AceOn Group is a UK-based energy storage specialist that develops innovative battery systems, including sodium-ion and second-life batteries, for residential, commercial, and maritime applications. Their work has evolved from early feasibility studies on electrical sockets to leading large-scale collaborative projects on renewable energy and clean maritime propulsion, often targeting off-grid and decarbonisation markets.

PyroGenesys develops containerised biomass pyrolysis systems (PyroPower/Pyrochemy) that convert agricultural waste into renewable electricity, heat, biofuels, and biochar for carbon removal. Their work targets off-grid energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, addressing rural electrification, clean cooking, and post-harvest losses. The company has evolved from feasibility studies to experimental development and deployment, consistently leading large consortia under Innovate UK's Energy Catalyst programme.

Enable International is a small enterprise specialising in mobility-as-a-service and rail passenger flow optimisation. The company develops platforms that combine customer data with transport operator information to deliver personalised journey guidance and intelligent signage for managing passenger flow at station platforms. Their work has evolved from a broad MaaS platform to targeted rail solutions for seat occupancy and real-time passenger guidance.

P.A.K Engineering specialises in thermal management and energy-efficient systems for buildings, vehicles, and agriculture. Their technology portfolio includes heat exchangers, evaporative cooling, thermoelectric heat pumps, and battery thermal management solutions. They have evolved from agricultural ventilation and vehicle air conditioning to advanced battery thermal systems and modular energy storage for electric vehicles in developing countries.

Energiesprong UK drives the market for net-zero homes by working between social housing providers and the supply chain to create whole-house solutions. They develop digital tools and platforms to enable rapid, scalable retrofitting of existing homes to net-zero standards, evolving from pilot projects to leading a large consortium for systemic change.

National Gas Transmission PLC manages the UK's high-pressure gas transmission network, focusing on the transition to a net-zero energy system. Their R&D portfolio has evolved from traditional gas infrastructure maintenance to complex, cross-vector energy modelling, hydrogen repurposing, and digital asset management. They leverage extensive collaborative partnerships to integrate AI, quantum-inspired optimisation, and advanced materials into the decarbonisation of national critical infrastructure.

Pure Leapfrog is a charitable organisation focused on accelerating the transition to net zero through community-led energy systems, social housing decarbonisation, and local carbon literacy initiatives. They specialise in developing frameworks that bridge the gap between technical retrofit solutions and the social requirements of fuel-poor households and local authorities. Their work has evolved from designing smart local energy market structures to implementing AI-enabled retrofit platforms for the private rented sector.

Keele University is a research-intensive academic institution that leverages its campus as a living laboratory to drive innovation in smart energy systems, net zero infrastructure, and digital health diagnostics. Through extensive collaborative R&D, the university bridges the gap between academic research and industrial application, focusing on decarbonisation, AI-driven legal data accessibility, and advanced material analysis. Their work consistently integrates multi-disciplinary expertise to address complex societal challenges in energy, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.

Iconsys is a West Midlands-based automation and systems integration specialist that focuses on developing advanced electrical power management solutions for the maritime sector. Their work centres on the design and deployment of intelligent shore-based energy storage systems to facilitate the decarbonisation of commercial vessels. By integrating energy management software with physical infrastructure, they address the technical and economic challenges of providing stable power to ships at berth.

Enzen Global is a large-scale energy consultancy and solutions provider that specialises in the design and implementation of sustainable energy infrastructure. Their work focuses on integrating smart energy systems, renewable technologies, and low-carbon transport into regional utility networks to drive decarbonisation and economic growth. They operate as a strategic partner to local authorities and infrastructure providers, delivering complex system-wide energy modelling and policy-aligned infrastructure designs.

Mkango Rare Earths UK is a specialist in securing and strengthening the UK supply chain for rare earth elements, particularly through the recycling of permanent magnets from end-of-life products. The company collaborates on collaborative R&D projects that develop sustainable processing technologies, such as hydrogen-based magnet recycling and ionothermal synthesis, to reduce reliance on imported rare earths and support the clean energy transition.

Anvil Semiconductors develops 3C-silicon carbide (SiC) on silicon wafers to enable low-cost, high-efficiency power electronics and LED lighting. Their technology addresses the cost barrier that limits adoption of SiC devices, targeting applications in power conversion and solid-state lighting. Over six grants, they evolved from feasibility studies on LEDs and hybrid power modules to applied R&D on device optimization, thicker SiC layers for 1200V operation, and interconnect improvements.

Solomon & Wu is a design-led manufacturer based in Birmingham, specialising in aesthetic interior panels made from 100% waste stream materials. Their work emphasises circularity, low carbon manufacturing, and sustainability, aiming to contribute to LEED and BREEAM schemes. They have evolved from producing waste-based panels to participating in an industrial consortium to scale up plant-based resin systems for foundry and construction applications.

Koolmill Systems develops novel rice milling technology that reduces grain breakage and valorises by-products. Their work has evolved from basic milling improvements to AI-driven process control, service models for African smallholders, and biogas from rice straw. They collaborate extensively with academic and industry partners across multiple countries.

Transport Design International (TDI) is a rail and road vehicle development group based in Stratford-upon-Avon. Specialising in lightweight, low-carbon rail solutions, TDI has developed a braided composite railcar, a battery-electric train with flash charging, and a self-powered freight bogie. The company leads consortia involving universities and industrial partners, progressing from materials research to field demonstrations.

Holosphere is a West Midlands-based immersive technology company that develops augmented reality, virtual reality, and digital twin solutions for training, sales, and building retrofit planning. Their work spans automotive sales projection mapping, VR science education platforms, XR cleanroom training for pharmaceutical manufacturing, and digital twins for low-carbon building upgrades. The company collaborates with universities and industry partners to translate emerging immersive technologies into practical, scalable applications across multiple sectors.

Alcohols Ltd is a medium-sized enterprise specialising in the decarbonisation of industrial production processes within the spirits and chemical sectors. The company leverages advanced manufacturing technologies and biomanufacturing techniques to transition from fossil-fuel-dependent production to sustainable, low-carbon methods. Their work has evolved from large-scale energy efficiency deployment in gin production to collaborative research into CO2-based biomanufacturing.