Thermal Energy Systems
Innovate UK Business Connect supports the heating and cooling industries in the UK including the electrification of heat (heat pumps, storage heaters, dry heating systems), heat networks (infrastructure, heat exchangers, heat network optimisation) and low carbon gases (hydrogen, biogas and other green gases).
Thermal Energy Systems
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Heating and cooling generation and storage for domestic, commercial and industrial use are also supported including CHP (combined heat and power), solar thermal and ground and air source heat pumps, phase change heat storage, inter seasonal storage and more traditional water storage systems.
Innovate UK Business Connect’s focus over the last few years has been the industrial sector to help the manufacturing industries to reduce their carbon emissions. The majority of their emissions are created through the generation of the high-grade heat needed for their industrial processes. We have supported, and continue to support, a number of BEIS funding programmes to support the reduction of carbon related to heating.
The future focus will be on reducing the carbon emissions associated with cooling required for domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. Innovate UK Business Connect is working with Innovate UK to develop their future programme in this area.
Related Opportunities
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Opens: 03/05/2025 Closes: 17/02/2026
Topics available under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5 programme for 2025/26, with up to €69m available for the largest single projects
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Horizon Europe 2025 EU Missions: 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030
Opens: 06/05/2025 Closes: 20/01/2026
Funding available through Horizon Europe to support climate-neutral and smart cities, with up to €15m for the largest projects.
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Innovation Exchange challenge: Net Zero Heating of Heritage Public Buildings
Opens: 28/04/2025 Closes: 29/05/2025
Seeking solutions to achieve Net Zero heating for a Grade II listed building, possibly leading to future strategies for other national heritage buildings.
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Contracts for Innovation: Net Zero Living Tech Trials, phase 3
Opens: 19/05/2025 Closes: 25/06/2025
Organisations can apply for a share of £800,000, inclusive of VAT, to develop pre-commercial innovations that support Local Authorities in meeting net zero goals. Projects must include field trials to test and improve solutions ahead of commercialisation.
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Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2025 – 2026 Round 2
Opens: 14/04/2025 Closes: 11/06/2025
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults, working with businesses or not for profits, can apply for a share of up to £9m.
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Innovate UK innovation loans future economy: Round 21
Opens: 08/05/2025 Closes: 02/07/2025
UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.
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Related Events and Recordings
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