Technology Journey
Developing a new low-carbon technology is an uncertain process. Even with a working prototype the costs of proving a technology in the market are high - and so are the risks.
The Carbon Trust’s Entrepreneurs Fast Track offers funding for research and development and expert commercialisation advice for technologies with a high degree of technical excellence and commercial potential.
Our experience of the low-carbon research landscape in the UK has highlighted high-impact technologies for which the Carbon Trust could take a more active role. We aim to bring world-class science to the market more quickly by directing research towards commercial goals. We work with the best industrial and academic talent to overcome the key technical barriers. Examples are the Advanced Photovoltaic Challenge and the Algae Biofuels challenge.
Company Journey
Early-stage companies often struggle to make the transition from the laboratory to a mature business and need new skills to make the business case.
Our Entrepreneurs Fast Track programme helps you to find the funding you need. We provide expert advice from technology strategy, business planning and market analysis to preparing for that vital pitch to investors. By co-investing with private-sector funds, the Carbon Trust also mobilises the financial resources to commercialise low-carbon technologies. Supported by technology, market and policy experts and managed by a commercial fund manager, the Carbon Trust’s Venture Capital fund has the expertise and commercial rigour to lead the way in low-carbon technology investment.
Market Journey
Emerging low-carbon technologies must challenge the incumbent players to enter the mainstream market. Emerging technologies often face barriers: lack of awareness, inconsistent standards or outmoded business practices.
The Carbon Trust’s Technology Accelerators bring together the key players to address these market barriers. Our in-depth field trials and demonstrations provide the objective, authoritative evidence to help markets and policymakers make informed choices about emerging technologies. Lessons from the field can inform technology development. Examples of this approach are the Micro CHP Accelerator and the Biomass Heat Accelerator.
Regulation Journey
Regulation and policy have a vital role to play in creating the conditions for low-carbon technologies to flourish. Emerging technologies often present challenges for the existing policy and regulatory regime and decision-makers must be equipped to respond.
Our Technology Accelerators provide detailed practical insights into the impact of regulation on low-carbon technologies and provide the foundation for evidence-based policy-making. The Carbon Trust’s Insights team provides thoughtful strategic analysis of the policy landscape.
An example of our work on regulations and technology is in offshore wind. The Carbon Trust report ‘Offshore wind power: big challenge, big opportunity’ outlined that, under a reasonable set of assumptions, the UK requires 25% of its electricity to come from offshore wind by 2020 if it is to meet its EU renewables target of 15% of all energy by this date. 25% of UK electricity equates to 29GW of offshore wind power capacity.
Delivering 29GW of offshore wind power generation in just over a decade is an immense challenge. The Carbon Trust has therefore launched a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with five major international energy companies that aims to reduce the cost of energy from offshore wind by at least 10%. Worth up to £30m over five years, the Offshore Wind Accelerator comprises a set of major research, development and demonstration activities designed to reduce the costs of offshore wind energy.