Energy Systems Catapult

What Energy Systems Catapult does

Energy Systems Catapult is a not-for-profit, independent research and technology organisation established in 2015 by Innovate UK as part of a network of nine government-backed technology and innovation centres. Headquartered in Birmingham with a team of more than 250 people, it operates as the UK's flagship Catapult for Net Zero energy innovation, combining technical, engineering, consumer, commercial, incubation, digital and policy expertise to accelerate the commercialisation of clean energy technologies. Its core infrastructure is the Living Lab, a network of over 5,000 UK households across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where real-world smart meter, EV charging, heat pump, solar PV and battery storage data is captured and used to test products, services and policies. This feeds into the Whole Energy Systems Accelerator (WESA), which combines Living Lab data with PNDC's network emulation for real-time grid-condition simulations, and supports modelling tools such as Home Energy Dynamics (HED) and the Energy System Modelling Environment (ESME).

The organisation generates revenue through a mix of core government grant funding from Innovate UK, commissioned advisory and research services for energy companies, network operators, government departments and local authorities, and growing productised data offerings (Living Lab datasets are sold at £1,000 per dataset). Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct, with a tiered SME support platform (Energy Launchpad) covering universal, incubation, acceleration and international tiers. Customer segments span Net Zero SMEs, network operators (100% of UK energy networks engage it), energy retailers, industrial sites, local authorities, government, green finance, and healthcare (including NHS England). Named clients include the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, National Grid, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks, Cadent, NHS England, West Midlands Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the British High Commission Singapore. Recent strategic moves include the launch of the Smart Energy Data Service (SENSE) and an HGV Fleet Electrification Toolkit in March 2026, a Scale-Up Zone at All-Energy 2026, and the formation of the West Midlands Smart Energy Systems Cluster targeting 2030.

Name

Energy Systems Catapult

Legal name

Energy Systems Catapult

Website

https://es.catapult.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Energy Systems Catapult is a UK government-funded, not-for-profit innovation centre established by Innovate UK in 2015 that accelerates Net Zero energy commercialisation through a 5,000-home Living Lab, simulation tools, and commissioned advisory services for SMEs, network operators, government, and healthcare clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Innovation and Research Services

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Decarbonization Strategy & Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Advisory (EUABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sector-Specific Net-Zero Pathways & Benchmarking (hard-to-abate methodologies) (EUABAKAI), Scope 1–3 GHG Inventory Strategy, Data Governance & Controls (advisory) (EUABAKAD), Net-Zero Assurance & Readiness Assessments (limited assurance prep, audit support) (EUABAKAJ)

Keywords

• Clean energy innovation
• Energy systems modelling
• Decarbonisation consulting
• Smart grid testing
• Energy research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government-funded innovation projects: Part of Innovate UK Catapult Network; receives funding and collaborates with government, industry and academia on R&D projects
2. Commercial commissions and consulting: Not-for-profit independent organisation offering commissioned strategic advisory services, technical expertise and policy support to energy sector clients
3. Data products and research services: Sale of anonymised smart meter datasets from Living Lab homes at £1,000 per dataset for commercial innovators

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Energy Systems Catapult is an independent research and technology organisation that accelerates the commercialisation of Net Zero energy innovations. It sells commissioned advisory and technical services, runs incubation and acceleration programmes for energy SMEs, operates a Living Lab of 5,000+ UK households for real-world testing, and provides whole-system modelling tools and data products to government, network operators, local authorities and industry clients.

Product overview

Energy Systems Catapult operates as an innovation accelerator and research organisation, not a single product company. Its portfolio comprises multiple interconnected programs and platforms: Living Lab (the core 5,000+ home testing network) forms the foundation, which feeds into WESA for network simulation. Energy Launchpad & International provides three-tiered support (Universal, Incubation/Acceleration, International). Supporting tools include Home Energy Dynamics (simulation), Local Area Energy Planning, Net Zero Go (local authority platform), InSite (building data), and Public Sector Decarbonisation Guidance. Data products include Household Energy Data datasets. Social initiatives include Warm Home Prescription and Fair Futures. All offerings are coordinated through a 'whole systems' approach combining technical, commercial, and policy expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Living Lab

Quantifiable outcome

• 319+ SME innovators supported to raise £723m+ investment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• West Midlands Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Energy Systems Catapult and funded by West Midlands Combined Authority, the Smart Energy Systems Cluster unites businesses, innovators and regional capabilities to establish the West Midlands as a centre of excellence for smart and flexible energy systems by 2030.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) / Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organisation that launched Energy Systems Catapult in 2015 as part of a network of nine technology and innovation centres. Provides core funding and strategic direction.
• Energy Capital (West Midlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy partnership aligned to the West Midlands Regional Energy Strategy, supporting the Smart Energy Systems Cluster activities.
• PNDC (Power Networks Demonstration Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership combining Living Lab with PNDC's network emulation capabilities and real-time simulations for the Whole Energy Systems Accelerator (WESA).
• All UK Energy NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% of UK energy networks work with Energy Systems Catapult on innovation projects, SIF and NIA project delivery, and network planning.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult: Fellow Innovate UK Catapult focused on offshore wind, marine and renewable energy innovation. Closest structural peer, sharing the same Catapult Network funding model, RTO positioning and government-backed mandate.
• Connected Places Catapult: Catapult focusing on transport, place and built-environment innovation. Comparable in structure (government-funded RTO within the same Catapult Network) and overlaps with ESC in local-authority decarbonisation and smart local energy systems.
• Digital Catapult: Catapult advancing UK digital and AI innovation. Sister Catapult with the same funding model; shares the SME incubation/acceleration proposition and intersects with ESC on digital energy and AI/data offerings like SENSE.
• Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE): UK national charity providing advice, research and policy work on sustainable energy, including support to local authorities, communities and vulnerable households. Overlaps with ESC on Local Area Energy Planning, Warm Home Prescription-style fuel poverty programmes and consumer insight.
• Regen (formerly Regen SW): Membership-based not-for-profit focused on the South West and broader UK energy system. Comparable as a regional energy innovation intermediary offering analysis, networks and project support to local authorities, networks and developers.

Broad incumbents

• Baringa Partners: Global consulting firm with a large energy and net-zero practice advising regulators, network operators and government. Competes for strategic advisory, modelling and policy mandates that ESC also serves, but at much larger scale.
• EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute): US-headquartered, member-funded energy R&D organisation with global research programmes. Comparable as an energy-sector RTO producing whole-system modelling, technology assessment and roadmap work for utilities and policymakers.
• Fraunhofer Institute: Germany's applied research organisation with energy, building and climate institutes. Closest international RTO comparable to the Catapult model, combining public funding with commercial contract research.

Emerging players

• Element Energy: UK-based specialist energy consultancy advising on low-carbon heat, transport, hydrogen and net-zero strategy. Comparable as a private-sector provider of decarbonisation strategy, MACC and sectoral pathway work that competes with ESC's consultancy offering.
• Cenex: UK not-for-profit focused on low-carbon transport and energy innovation. Comparable as a specialist innovation intermediary providing testing, demonstration and analysis services to UK government and industry, including the recent HGV fleet electrification work that ESC now also offers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/energysyscat
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnt24SaWrQh2aNaQBZxEX-w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/energy-systems-catapult
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnergySysCat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Energy Systems Catapult