News

Sustainable inventions win scale-up funding boost

10 December 2025 | PRESS RELEASE

Energy efficiency innovations in UK industrial sector could save four million tonnes of CO2 over 10 years

Thirteen projects awarded a combined £7 million in grant funding have demonstrated industrial advancements in a range of industrial settings, including: metalworking, food equipment cleaning, brewing heat recovery, in-situ road resurfacing and recycling textiles and plastics. Funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero under its Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), the third and fourth phases of the IEEA were delivered by the Carbon Trust in partnership with Jacobs and Innovate UK Business Connect.

According to the results published by the Carbon Trust, the projects have demonstrated innovative solutions to increase resource and energy efficiency in the UK’s industrial sector, with the potential to save four million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) over ten years. That is the equivalent of the annual CO2 emissions (2023 data) from the UK’s largest gas fired power station.

These projects showcased the potential for new innovative technologies to reduce energy and resource use in industry — the third-largest emitting sector in the UK — which currently accounts for the equivalent of around 48 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear said:

“The UK is leading the way in industrial innovation to cut emissions and boost productivity across the UK. Programmes like this have allowed us to back new technologies that will help a wide range of businesses, from food to construction. “This is a great example of how government and industry are working in tandem to deliver real-world solutions to tackle the climate crisis and back industry on the journey to Net Zero."

19 April 2023 | PRESS RELEASE

Pioneering energy efficiency tech wins Government grants

Seven new energy and resource saving technologies have secured £4.8m of funding for UK industry trials, with innovations ranging from reusing eggshells to recycling fast fashion garments.

These projects are the fourth phase of the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) programme, supported by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which helps innovators to demonstrate technology for industrial use. Phase 4 winners also include two different pioneering metal working techniques, new ventilation systems, methods for cleaning food manufacturing equipment and concrete technology.

Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan said, "We’re world-leading when it comes to reducing carbon-emissions but there is more to do. Today we’re awarding £4.8 million to seven cutting-edge energy efficiency projects - from fast-fashion recycling to robotic food processing - that will help take us a vital step closer towards industrial decarbonisation. This marks the final phase in this £10m round of our Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator programme, as we continue to invest in solutions that will drive clean, green growth for generations to come.”

25 November 2022 | PRESS RELEASE

Eight cutting-edge technologies, with the potential to save energy, maximise resource efficiency and cut carbon emissions, have won funding for UK industry trials.

These winners are the third phase of the BEIS Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) programme, which helps innovators scale up technology for industrial use.

Energy and climate minister Graham Stuart said:

"Industrial decarbonisation is essential to delivering green growth and jobs. I am delighted today to award more than £3.6 million of government funding across eight pioneering projects who are developing the technologies of the future.

“As our Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) programme shows, the UK is home to world-class innovators who are finding vital solutions to cutting industrial emissions.”

The IEEA has been delivered by the Carbon Trust with support from Jacobs and Innovate UK Business Connect.