Q Energy

What Q Energy does

Q Energy (legal entity Qbots Energy Ltd) is a Manchester-based smart energy services provider founded in 2017 by Dr. Li Yao and Vijay Natarajan. The company operates an AI-powered energy management platform that combines the SmartQube Hub IoT gateway, an Energy and Carbon Management System (ECMS) dashboard, and a Smart Battery Tariff offering that uses proprietary AI to charge customer-owned or funded battery storage systems when electricity prices are low and discharge during peak periods. The platform also participates in National Grid balancing as a licensed Asset Meter Virtual Lead Party (AMVLP), monetising flexibility through Demand Flexibility, DSO flexibility and grid services markets.

The business model centres on CapEx-free funded battery storage for businesses consuming 500,000+ kWh annually, retaining 80% of grid services revenue and offering guaranteed savings of 10–25% with a risk-reversal clause (Q Energy covers shortfalls; customers receive 80% of over-performance). Alternative revenue streams include outright hardware sales, Net Zero consulting and SECR compliance advisory. Q Energy serves 200+ UK businesses across enterprise and SME segments — including Bank of China, NHS Foundation Trusts, Royal Mail, Uno Bus, UKBIC, and Bruntwood commercial properties — with technology research collaborations with the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Q Energy has secured approximately £2.98M in UK government grant funding (Innovate UK £180k in 2017, BEIS £2.2M in 2018, UK-Nigeria Energy Catalyst £600k in 2019) rather than traditional venture capital, with a 13-person team operating from Manchester Science Park. International deployments include Nigeria (Project NICE) and Vietnam, alongside UK pilot projects such as REWIRE-NorthWest (£2.8M, Warrington Borough Council) and Urban-X (£400k, Keele University).

Name

Q Energy

Legal name

Qbots Energy Ltd

Website

https://qenergy.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Q Energy is a Manchester-based smart energy services provider using AI and IoT to optimise battery storage, electricity tariffs and grid flexibility for 200+ UK commercial businesses, with CapEx-free funded storage and licensed National Grid balancing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Energy Management Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Management Systems (BMS) & Battery Electronics (IMAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Energy Storage Software & Controls (EMS, monitoring, optimization, cybersecurity) (IMAGAHAJ), Utility & Grid Services Integration for EV Flexibility (DR/DERMS/SCADA Interfaces) (EUAFAMAF), Bidirectional Charging Hardware (Onboard/Offboard Chargers, Inverters, EVSE) (EUAFAMAC)

Keywords

• AI energy management
• Battery storage optimization
• Smart energy tariffs
• Carbon management platform
• Commercial demand flexibility

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Bill Savings: Q Energy provides battery storage at no upfront cost and generates revenue by guaranteeing customers 10-25% savings on electricity bills compared to conventional tariffs. They offer a risk-free guarantee where if actual costs exceed forecast, Q Energy covers the difference. If lower, customers share 80% of extra savings. Q Energy funds operations through grid services revenue from National Grid balancing activities.
2. Grid Services Revenue: As a licensed Asset Meter Virtual Lead Party (AMVLP), Q Energy provides balancing and flexibility services to the National Grid using customer batteries. They earn revenue from demand flexibility services, DSO flexibility services, and grid balancing. Q Energy retains 80% of grid revenue earned from these services. Customers can earn up to £3/kWh through Demand Flexibility Services.
3. Energy Storage Solutions: Custom battery storage systems for commercial clients including behind-the-meter and front-of-meter solutions. Q Energy handles all technical processes including G99 grid connection applications. Also offers rooftop solar installations monitored through ECMS.
4. Net Zero Consulting Services: Tailored strategies for carbon reduction including energy audits, carbon assessments, heating decarbonisation plans, and feasibility studies for heat pumps. Access to funding from BEIS, Ofgem and local authority initiatives.
5. Energy Intelligence Content: White papers, case studies, blogs, and webinars providing energy market insights and best practices, supporting customer education and lead generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Q Energy delivers CapEx-free battery energy storage combined with an AI optimization platform that charges batteries when electricity prices are low and discharges during peak times, guaranteeing 10-25% savings on UK businesses' electricity bills. Its Energy and Carbon Management System (ECMS) and SmartQube Hub IoT gateway unify monitoring and control of solar panels, heat pumps, EV chargers and battery storage across multi-site commercial portfolios.

Product overview

Q Energy operates as a smart energy services provider offering an integrated platform of AI-powered energy management products and services. The core offering centers on the Smart Battery Tariff, which combines Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) hardware with proprietary AI optimization to deliver guaranteed electricity savings. The product portfolio includes the Energy and Carbon Management System (ECMS) as the unified monitoring and control platform, the SmartQube Hub as the hardware gateway for edge analytics, energy storage solutions for various commercial use cases, funded battery storage programs for businesses with solar, and Net-Zero consulting services. These products work together: ECMS monitors all energy assets (solar, batteries, EV chargers, heat pumps) while the Smart Battery Tariff and SmartQube Hub optimize charging/discharging decisions based on real-time market prices and usage patterns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECMS (Energy and Carbon Management System): AI-powered energy management and monitoring platform that connects and monitors distributed energy devices including solar panels, heat pumps, EV chargers, and battery storage. Provides asset-level insights and real-time analytics for efficient energy use.
• Smart Battery Tariff
• SmartQube Hub
• QEnergy Hub

Products and services

• Smart Battery Tariff

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-25% savings on electricity bills
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Upp B2BcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative and strategic marketing partnership with Upp B2B featuring an eye-catching campaign using AI-generated parodies to highlight real savings potential of AI in energy management. Both companies share vision to make positive impact on B2B energy market.
• COMTEC Clean Energy GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for sourcing battery storage solutions. COMTEC (HK: 000712) is a global leader in solar panels, battery storage systems and EV charging. Qbots signed agreement to source QSTORE battery storage, with software development for COMTEC projects in China. Also working with ABB for Power Conversion Systems.
• University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with Dr. Alessandra Parisio (Power and Energy Division) on advanced control algorithms using Model Predictive Control and stochastic optimisation for intelligent buildings and microgrids. Also working with Dr. Rebecca Todd on renewable systems design and Siemens SieStorage testing.
• BruntwoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Bruntwood (commercial property) to deliver energy storage and smart energy management to commercial building owners. Working on buildings including Citylabs 1.0 and James Chadwick Building.
• Penso PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ENERGY-IQ demonstrator project for smart energy systems.
• Energy Systems CatapultcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsortium partner in BASEE project providing independent user research, customer surveys, and business model advice. Not-for-profit research organisation bridging industry, government, academia and research.
• Leapfrog FinancecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsortium partner in BASEE project. Non-profit dedicated to supporting community energy transition, providing finance and funding facilitation for energy projects.
• Dunsky Energy ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in ENERGY-IQ project bringing Canadian market expertise and independent research capabilities.
• Keele UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Urban-X project (£400k) to improve local energy trading platform connecting with 10 campus buildings using demand flexibility, battery storage, solar generation and EV charging.
• Warrington Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in REWIRE-NorthWest £2.8M project to explore city-wide local energy system design with average 25% cost savings target for businesses and households.
• Together EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnergy supplier partner in REWIRE-NorthWest project.
• Scottish Power Energy NetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistribution Network Operator partner in REWIRE-NorthWest project.
• VAYA Energy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Nigeria for NICE (Nigeria Intelligent Clean Energy) project installing solar and battery at schools and communities. VAYA installs solar panels and battery storage connected to Q Energy platform.
• Manchester Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partner with expertise in smart infrastructure and peer-to-peer trading. Collaborating on NICE project and smart microgrid living lab in John Dalton Tower for system simulation.
• Bristol EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in BASEE consortium providing energy services to SMEs.
• Federation of Small BusinessesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in BASEE consortium supporting SME engagement and access to information on energy efficiency.
• Elexon (BM Unit)coreTechnology or IntegrationCertified partnership for grid balancing services. Q Energy is a licensed Asset Meter Virtual Lead Party (AMVLP) providing balancing and flexibility services to National Grid.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• GridBeyond: Ireland/UK-based energy technology company providing AI-powered battery optimization, demand response and grid services to commercial and industrial customers. Directly comparable in target market, AI optimization stack and revenue model (grid services plus customer savings).
• Piclo: UK-based matching platform connecting flexibility providers (generators, storage, DR) with National Grid and DNOs for flexibility markets. Overlaps with Q Energy's AMVLP and Demand Flexibility Services revenue stream, though Piclo is a marketplace rather than asset operator.
• Powervault: UK-based smart battery storage company targeting commercial and residential customers with AI-optimized storage systems. Comparable product offering in UK battery storage and energy management space, smaller scale than Q Energy.
• KrakenFlex (Octopus Energy): UK flexibility platform acquired by Octopus Energy that orchestrates distributed energy resources, EV chargers and battery storage for grid services. Direct competitor in the UK VPP and flexibility market with comparable technology focus.
• Limejump (Shell Energy): UK virtual power plant and flexibility platform acquired by Shell, providing aggregated battery storage, demand response and balancing services to National Grid. Operates in the same AMVLP/flexibility market as Q Energy but at much larger scale.
• Moixa Technology Holdings: UK-based smart battery optimization and energy management company targeting residential and commercial customers. Both companies deploy AI-driven battery optimization, smart tariffs and grid services in the UK with comparable product positioning to Q Energy's Smart Battery Tariff.

Broad incumbents

• sonnen (Shell): Germany-based residential and commercial battery storage company owned by Shell, providing integrated solar-plus-storage with energy management. Broader incumbent in the battery and VPP space where Q Energy competes in the commercial segment.
• Tesla Energy (Autobidder/Powerwall): Tesla's energy business offering Powerwall/Megapack storage and the Autobidder VPP platform for trading and grid services. A broad incumbent in the same battery-VPP-flexibility space where Q Energy operates, with substantially larger scale and balance sheet.

Others

• ABB E-mobility: Global EV charging infrastructure and power conversion provider. Partner and adjacent ecosystem player in Q Energy's V2G deployments with Royal Mail and Uno Bus depots, competing in EV flexibility aggregation.

Emerging players

• Open Utility: UK peer-to-peer energy matching platform enabling local renewable energy trading. Partial overlap with Q Energy's QEnergy Local Energy Trading Platform and Energy Clubs feature set, though focused on matchmaking rather than hardware operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Qenergyai
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0D-y0Xu8-j0cnCSEuTKvMg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Qenergyai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qbots

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Q Energy