Scene Connect

What Scene Connect does

Scene Connect Ltd is a UK-based social enterprise founded in Edinburgh in 2011 that operates at the intersection of renewable energy consultancy, applied research, and low-carbon ICT product development, with offices in Edinburgh (headquarters) and Liverpool. The company helps community groups, housing co-operatives, faith organisations, and local authorities across the UK plan, design, consent, and deliver community-owned renewable energy and decarbonisation projects (solar PV, wind, hydro, heat networks, battery storage, retrofit), and has supported the consenting of over 100 MW of generating capacity through Co-Director Alex Schlicke. Beyond UK consultancy, Scene runs an international development portfolio spanning Africa and South Asia (India, Nepal, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Chile) focused on energy access and smart mini-grids.

Its technology stack centres on proprietary ICT platforms developed in-house. ZUoS (Zonal Use of System) is an energy services platform for UK energy suppliers and virtual power plant operators enabling optimisation of local distribution grids; Cloud ZUoS extends this into a market-coupled virtual power plant integrating with Enbala's platform. EMBLEM is a modular evolving mini-grid model for Africa and India that enables peer-to-peer energy markets and tiered energy access. The company has productised these and adjacent capabilities into spin-out companies: Urjaa Samadhan (India, 2016), Inclusive Energy (Cloud Solar and Smart Biogas, 2018), and Farm-Hand (precision irrigation, 2018).

Scene's revenue model is a hybrid of project-based professional services (paid feasibility studies, technical appraisals, project management, and net zero / carbon footprinting delivered primarily through UK public-sector frameworks such as the N9 Retrofit and Decarbonisation Framework, the North East Technical Framework for TVCA, and the Sheffield City Council Energy Audit Framework), grant-funded R&D (Innovate UK, GCRF, Energy Catalyst), and equity/licensing exposure through its jointly-controlled spin-outs. The business is privately held with no external venture or private equity investment disclosed, and reinvests a portion of profits into community energy schemes.

Name

Scene Connect

Legal name

Scene Connect Ltd

Website

https://scene.community

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Energy Consultancy

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (561210)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Customer Energy Engagement (In-Home Displays, Portals, Usage Insights) (EUADAFAH)

Keywords

• Community energy consultancy
• Renewable energy services
• Low-carbon ICT platforms
• Smart grid solutions
• Energy access consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Energy Consultancy Services: Scene provides paid consultancy services to communities, local authorities, housing co-ops, and public sector bodies across the UK. Services include feasibility studies, technical and financial appraisals, project management, planning applications, environmental assessments, and decarbonisation strategy. Revenue is project-based, contracted through frameworks and direct commissioning. Projects span solar PV, wind, hydro, heat networks, battery storage, and energy efficiency.
2. Research and Development: Scene participates in funded R&D projects (Innovate UK, Global Challenges Research Fund, Energy Catalyst, UK Government funds) which provide project funding for developing new technologies and approaches in energy access, smart grids, and community energy. Outputs are commercialised through spin-out companies.
3. ICT Product Commercialisation via Spin-outs: Scene develops ICT products through the R&D lifecycle and commercialises them through affiliated companies: Inclusive Energy (smart energy access products - Cloud Solar and Smart Biogas) and Farm-Hand (precision irrigation for smallholder farmers). Scene holds equity/stake in these spin-outs.
4. Net Zero Services: Carbon footprinting, net zero strategy development, and tailored carbon emissions reductions advice for UK organisations including SMEs. Services grounded in ISO 14640-certified carbon auditing and environmental management expertise.
5. Community Energy Investments: Scene invests a portion of its profits into community energy projects across the UK, generating returns while offsetting the company's own carbon footprint. Scene has invested in 12 community energy schemes since 2014.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Scene Connect is a social enterprise that delivers community energy and renewable energy consultancy, applied research, and proprietary low-carbon ICT products. Core services include feasibility studies, technical and financial appraisals, project management, planning support, and net zero/carbon strategy work for community groups, local authorities, housing co-ops, and SMEs in the UK. The company also develops smart energy platforms (ZUoS, Cloud ZUoS, EMBLEM) and building energy modelling tools, commercialised through affiliated spin-outs such as Inclusive Energy and Farm-Hand.

Product overview

Scene Connect is a Social Enterprise offering consultancy services, ICT product development, and community energy research. The company develops and commercializes ICT products through affiliated companies. Current product portfolio includes ZUoS (energy services platform for UK energy suppliers), Cloud ZUoS (virtual power plant with local energy trading), EMBLEM (modular mini-grids with peer-to-peer energy markets for Africa/India), and REFRUIT (smart irrigation tool for East Africa). Previous products have been commercialized through spin-outs Inclusive Energy (Cloud Solar, Smart Biogas) and Farm-Hand (precision irrigation). Services span renewable energy consulting, net zero services, and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZUoS: Energy services platform for UK energy suppliers and virtual power plant operators enabling optimisation of local distribution grids, uptake of low-carbon energy, and creation of new local energy markets.
• EMBLEM
• Cloud Solar
• Smart Biogas

Products and services

• Energy Consultancy Services Paid consultancy services covering feasibility studies, technical and financial appraisals, project management, planning applications, environmental assessments, and decarbonisation strategy for community groups, local authorities, housing co-ops, and public sector bodies across the UK. Projects span solar PV, wind, hydro, heat networks, battery storage, and energy efficiency.
• Net Zero Services Carbon footprinting, net zero strategy development, and tailored carbon emissions reduction advice for UK organisations including SMEs, grounded in ISO 14640-certified carbon auditing and environmental management expertise.
• Applied Research Services Funded R&D projects covering energy access, smart grids, and community energy. Includes the annual Community Energy State of the Sector report with Community Energy England and academic collaborations with universities including Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt, and Coventry.
• ZUoS (Zonal Use of System) Energy Services Platform Energy services platform for UK energy suppliers and virtual power plant operators enabling optimisation of local distribution grids, uptake of low-carbon energy, and creation of new local energy markets. Functions at individual building, local distribution, and wider distribution levels.
• Cloud ZUoS Market-coupled virtual power plant (MCVPP) facilitating local energy trading alongside IoT appliance and DER asset control services for consumers, generators, storage providers, and network operators. Integrates with Enbala's Virtual Power Plant platform.
• EMBLEM (Evolving Mini-grid with Local Energy Markets) New model for electricity provision in Africa and India through modular, evolving mini-grids and the creation of peer-to-peer energy markets. Enables interconnected systems to grow from existing installations, allowing low-tier energy access to evolve into high-tier access without step-change costs.
• Building Energy Modelling and Simulation Service Advanced building physics modelling service for heat network feasibility assessments, home energy model development (successor to SAP), and dwelling-level analysis for retrofit design and funding decisions.
• GRIPS Advanced Distribution Network Monitoring System Advanced distribution network monitoring system developed for the GRIPS project in Nepal to identify periods of network stress that might result in outage, improving access to clean, reliable energy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 36,000 tonnes CO2e emissions offset through consultancy work since 2014
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, key and core.

• Edinburgh Napier UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Academic partner in the CASREM project (AI, IoT, and forecasting for energy optimisation in agriculture and cold storage), supporting data analysis, system deployment, and commercialisation.
• LocogenkeyTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Renewable energy consultancy and developer collaborating with Scene on multiple projects including Cloud ZUoS, Perth Smart Energy Network, and other energy systems projects. Locogen brings development and technical expertise complementing Scene's community energy focus.
• EnbalakeyTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Energy storage and virtual power plant technology provider. Partnered with Scene through the Power Forward Challenge and Cloud ZUoS project, integrating their Virtual Power Plant platform with Scene's ZUoS energy services platform to deliver a market-coupled VPP system.
• FuturepumpkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Solar-powered irrigation technology manufacturer. Partner in the REFRUIT project alongside Scene, Farm-Hand, and Gulu Agricultural Development Company (GADC). Futurepump provides the hardware (Sunflower solar pump) while Scene leads project coordination and Farm-Hand provides the digital scheduling platform.
• Practical Action ConsultingkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International development consultancy specialising in technology for poverty reduction. Partner in the HEED (Humanitarian Engineering and Energy for Displacement) project alongside Scene and Coventry University, addressing energy access in refugee camps in Rwanda and Nepal.
• Coventry UniversitykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Academic partner in the HEED project (Humanitarian Engineering and Energy for Displacement), a Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project addressing energy poverty in refugee camps. Coventry leads the research component while Scene provides energy systems expertise.
• NovovillekeyTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Smart home technology company. Partner in the CivTech 7 ZUoS project, combining Novoville's customer journey platform with Scene's building energy modelling to develop a digital platform for home decarbonisation targeting individuals, communities, and social landlords.
• Community Energy EnglandkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Annual partnership to produce the 'Community Energy: State of the Sector' report, the most comprehensive evaluation of the community energy sector in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Provides quantitative evidence base for advocacy and policy support.
• Community Energy WalesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for the annual State of the Sector research, extending coverage to Wales alongside Community Energy England.
• Inclusive EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Commercialisation vehicle for smart energy access products developed through Scene's R&D. Inclusive Energy commercialises two products: Cloud Solar (enabling solar energy providers to offer 'solar as a service' for last-mile energy access in Africa and India) and Smart Biogas (smart metering for small-scale biogas digesters). Scene co-founded and continues to support this spin-out.
• Farm-HandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Precision irrigation company co-founded by Scene in 2018 following the SCORRES project. Farm-Hand uses localised day-ahead weather forecasting to provide automated precision irrigation schedules for smallholder farmers. Partners include Auroville Consulting, Heriot-Watt University, Findhorn College, and Auraventi. Scene's Vijay Bhopal served as Non-Executive Director until 2019.
• Gulu Agricultural Development Company (GADC)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Ugandan agricultural development company and Farmer Organisation operating in the West Nile region of Uganda. Key on-the-ground partner for the REFRUIT project, coordinating farmer engagement, workshop delivery, pilot farm selection, and local logistics for solar irrigation technology trials.
• Gham PowerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Nepal-based energy company and HiT Power Limited are partners in the GRIPS project alongside Scene and Swanbarton, focused on improving energy access through distributed solar PV and storage in Nepal.
• Heriot-Watt UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Academic partner in the SCORRES project (Smart Control of Rural Renewable Energy & Storage) and subsequent Farm-Hand spin-out. Contributed to research on irrigation systems for Indian agriculture.
• Urjaa SamadhanminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Spin-out company established by Scene in 2016 in Odisha, India, working to improve access to electricity in the State of Odisha. Active in solar streetlight installations across villages in Mayurbhanj district.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eunomia Research & Consulting: Bristol-based environmental consultancy advising public and private sector clients on sustainability, circular economy and low-carbon policy. Similar advisory model and public sector client base.
• CSE (Centre for Sustainable Energy): Bristol-based independent charity working on community energy, fuel poverty, and decarbonisation. Closely comparable on UK community energy advisory, public-sector retrofit programmes, and social-impact mission.
• Pure Leapfrog: UK social enterprise supporting community-owned renewable energy. Comparable peer in mission, model and community energy deployment focus, with overlap on UK social housing decarbonisation work.
• Repower: UK social enterprise developing community-owned renewable energy projects. Closely comparable business model and target market for community energy feasibility, project development, and ownership structures.
• Locogen: UK-based renewable energy consultancy and developer. Direct peer in community energy and small-scale renewable project advisory; Scene's listed partner on multiple projects including Cloud ZUoS and Perth Smart Energy Network.

Emerging players

• EcoAct: International climate consultancy providing carbon footprinting, net zero strategy and advisory services. Comparable offering on net zero and carbon audit; complementary overlap with Scene's SME net zero services.
• Piclo (Open Utility): UK peer-to-peer energy trading and flexibility marketplace for local energy markets. Direct technology comparator to ZUoS — overlapping on local energy trading, DSO flexibility and VPP-style platform plays.

Broad incumbents

• Energy Saving Trust: UK charity working with governments and the public on energy efficiency and low-carbon transport. Comparable on energy advice, retrofit programmes and household/community decarbonisation engagement at scale.
• Arup Energy Advisory: Global engineering consultancy with large UK practice advising on decarbonisation strategy, district energy, and renewables. Comparable advisory services but operates at much greater scale and scope than Scene.
• Carbon Trust: UK-based organisation advising businesses and governments on decarbonisation and net zero. Compares on net zero advisory, carbon footprinting, and similar public sector clients, but at much larger scale and broader remit than Scene.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-community-energy-network-scene-
• Xx.com/Scenetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Scene Connect