What Steer Energy does

Steer Energy is a UK-based technology consulting and product development firm founded in 2012 by Iain Chirnside and Nick Ryan, headquartered in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, with a second office in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The firm specialises in fluid mechanics and material science applied to real-world problem-solving for the energy and infrastructure sectors, explicitly positioning itself as technology-agnostic and delivering strategic, tactical and operational solutions across the project lifecycle — from problem definition and fundamental scientific research through real-world testing, prototyping, product/process design, market testing, and business and operational delivery support.

The company maintains a portfolio of proprietary products and research programmes, including the High Volume Gas Escape (HVGE) Toolkit (comprising the BOSIE, FROG and BUNG tools plus a common control hub), the Whystle non-electrical audio purge indicator, the Valvecare four-tier valve-maintenance system (Assess, Clean, Protect, Inform), the Pass Rate Indicator (PRI) being nationally rolled out in 2024, the StreetScore accessibility design code, and the HyPurge and Hy4Heat hydrogen research programmes. Underlying work is grounded in substantial empirical testing — over 750 direct purges on the HyPurge project alone — and is delivered through collaborative engagements with national and international clients across gas distribution, electricity transmission, nuclear, offshore, medical and water sectors.

Commercially, Steer operates a sales-led professional services model, generating revenue through project-based engagements ranging from 4–8 week sprint projects to longer fundamental research and tool-development programmes. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm works with a mix of micro-SMEs, large oil and gas operators, UK utilities, and government bodies (including the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero), with no disclosed external institutional funding and an estimated ~14 staff including founders, engineers, scientists, an associate, business development and finance functions, plus a wider community of associated specialists convened on individual projects.

Name

Steer Energy

Legal name

Steer Energy

Website

https://steerenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Steer Energy is a UK-based technology consulting firm specialising in fluid mechanics and material science, delivering R&D, real-world testing, and proprietary tools (HVGE Toolkit, Whystle, Valvecare, PRI) for energy utilities, infrastructure operators, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Technology R&D and Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333132)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Field Services & Repair (Troubleshooting, Corrective Maintenance, Parts Replacement) (EUAMAGAE)

Keywords

• Energy R&D consultancy
• Hydrogen technology development
• Gas infrastructure engineering
• Offshore problem solving
• Prototype product development

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldmeldrum

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. R&D and Innovation Consultancy Services: Provides scientific research, real-world testing, problem definition, prototyping, product/process design, market testing, business development support, and operational delivery support to clients across multiple sectors.
2. Project-Based Engagements: Works on client-funded projects ranging from sprint-style engagements (4-8 weeks) to longer fundamental research projects. Has delivered approximately £6m of projects covering innovation, development and commercialisation of new technology.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Steer Energy is a problem-solving technology company that delivers R&D, scientific research, real-world testing, prototyping, product/process design, and engineering consultancy services to clients in the energy, hydrogen, gas, nuclear, medical, offshore, electricity, and water sectors. The firm develops a portfolio of proprietary products and toolkits (HVGE Toolbox, Valvecare, Whystle, Pass Rate Indicator, StreetScore) alongside custom research programs such as HyPurge and Hy4Heat, taking ideas from the lab into the field.

Product overview

Steer Energy is a technology consulting firm that develops specialized products and provides research services for the energy sector. The company offers a portfolio of named products including the High Volume Gas Escape Toolkit (with tools: BOSIE, FROG, and BUNG), Hy4Heat research, StreetScore accessibility toolkit, Valvecare (four-tiered valve maintenance solution), HyPurge research, Whystle (audio purge indicator), and Pass Rate Indicator. These products are complemented by core services in scientific research, real-world testing, problem definition, product design and development, and engineering/market support. The company is technology-agnostic, focusing on finding solutions rather than pushing specific products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High Volume Gas Escape (HVGE) Toolkit A toolkit containing three specialised tools and a common control hub developed for SGN to respond to High Volume Gas Escapes, addressing public safety, supply continuity, and infrastructure protection. For gas distribution operators.
• Valvecare A four-tiered toolkit (Assess, Clean, Protect, Inform) for surveying and remediating valves without excavation, using video scopes, flush pumps, and specialist protective fluids accessed through existing breather ports. Reduces need for major streetworks. For gas distribution operators.
• Whystle Purge Indicator A non-electrical audio device that indicates the start, transition, and end of a gas purge by sound, detecting and differentiating between air, Natural Gas, and hydrogen without requiring visual monitoring. For gas network operators and field technicians.
• Pass Rate Indicator (PRI) A pragmatic valve maintenance tool incorporating a small manifold with flow restriction for use with existing pressure gauges, providing safe, reliable, and repeatable 5-level asset health assessments of valve seals. Developed for National Gas Services.
• StreetScore A design code and toolkit developed to improve accessibility journeys through street works for disabled individuals and Priority Services Register users, with focus on walkways, ramps, visibility, communications, and site assistance. Developed in collaboration with disabled individuals and advocacy groups.
• HyPurge Research Programme A comparative study investigating purging performance differences between hydrogen and methane across pipe diameters, examining efficiency, flammability, and safety considerations for gas network pipes. Delivered for SGN's H100 Fife project with over 750 direct purges and purge-related tests performed.
• Hy4Heat Research Programme Research project investigating whether hydrogen can technically and safely replace methane in commercial and residential buildings and gas appliances, with focus on leakage comparison from domestic gas joints and fittings, including deliberately damaged fittings. Delivered for the Hy4Heat programme led by Arup and Kiwa Gastec.
• Scientific Research Services Fundamental scientific research with particular expertise in fluid mechanics and material science and their interaction with the real world, available as a standalone service offering to clients across energy and adjacent sectors.
• Real-World Testing Services Real-world testing capabilities covering both fluid mechanics and material science, including design and execution of test programmes for client technologies across harsh and complex environments.
• Problem Definition Services Immersive problem-definition engagement that helps clients articulate the real problem, often challenging commonly held assumptions, before designing solutions.
• Product Design and Development Services Full-service product development from idea through prototype to finished product, covering all stages of the design process, for clients in energy and adjacent sectors.
• Engineering and Market Support Services Commercial engineering and market support that helps organisations engage with new markets and test, validate, and commercialise their products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £6m of projects delivered covering innovation, development and commercialisation of new technology since 2012
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ArupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Hy4Heat project alongside Kiwa Gastec. Arup led the overall project to establish if it is technically possible and safe to replace methane with hydrogen in commercial and residential buildings and gas appliances. Steer Energy conducted leak testing comparison research as part of this initiative.
• Kiwa GasteccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-lead partner with Arup in Hy4Heat project. Kiwa Gastec is a leading gas technology specialist involved in establishing hydrogen safety for domestic applications. Steer Energy contributed leak testing expertise to this hydrogen transition research initiative.
• Transport for AllminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Transport for All during Phase 2 of StreetScore project. The organization provided real-world feedback from disabled individuals, carers, and advocacy groups to improve accessibility concepts and prototypes for street works.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TWI (The Welding Institute): Global R&D organisation providing materials joining and integrity technology services, with deep expertise in oil & gas, nuclear and offshore applications. Comparable to Steer as a specialist industrial R&D organisation running project-based applied research, real-world testing and prototyping for energy infrastructure clients.
• Kiwa: Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) firm with strong UK gas technology and hydrogen capabilities. Co-led Hy4Heat with Steer (partner Shane Willcox was previously at Kiwa), and competes for similar gas testing, certification and hydrogen research work in the UK.
• Sagentia: UK-based technology and product development consultancy with expertise in fluid mechanics, materials and applied R&D for industrial, energy and medical clients. Highly comparable to Steer in offering scientific research, prototyping, real-world testing and product design services for complex engineering problems.
• Frazer-Nash Consultancy: UK-based engineering R&D and technology consultancy providing applied research, design and independent advice across energy, defence and transport. Highly comparable to Steer — Simon Rees, Steer's Business Development Associate, was previously at Frazer-Nash, and the firms share a similar specialist consultancy model serving UK infrastructure operators.
• Cambridge Consultants: UK-based technology consultancy combining deep science and engineering with product development and commercialisation expertise. Closely comparable to Steer's generalist model — taking on complex problem definitions and delivering real-world tested products — although operating at significantly larger scale and broader sector coverage.
• Brinker Technology: UK-based technology company developing remote leak sealing and repair solutions for oil & gas pipelines. Founder Iain Chirnside previously worked at Brinker, and the firms are directly comparable in addressing gas pipeline integrity through remote intervention tooling — overlapping with Steer's HVGE Toolkit, Valvecare and Pass Rate Indicator.

Broad incumbents

• AtkinsRéalis: Global engineering services firm with significant UK energy, hydrogen and nuclear advisory practices. Comparable to Steer as an end-to-end energy consultancy serving UK utilities and government, but with much broader service portfolio, larger teams, and longer-standing framework agreements.
• Element Materials Technology: Global testing, inspection and certification firm providing materials testing, failure analysis and product qualification services across energy and industrial sectors. Comparable to Steer's testing capabilities (and Steer's Simon Rees worked at Norton Straw, acquired by Element), but operates as a much larger broad-line TIC incumbent rather than a specialist consultancy.
• Wood Group (Wood plc): Global engineering and consulting firm providing design, project delivery and asset management across energy, hydrogen, nuclear and offshore sectors. Comparable to Steer as an energy services and consultancy provider to UK utilities and operators, but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio offering.
• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering consultancy with extensive UK energy, hydrogen and infrastructure practices serving gas, electricity and water clients. Comparable as an R&D-adjacent energy consultancy serving the same UK utility clients as Steer, but operating at consultancy scale with multi-£m framework agreements.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/steerenergy
• Xx.com/steerenergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Steer Energy