Notice

BASEE: projects selected for Phase 2

Published 17 March 2020

We have awarded 8 projects for Phase 2 funding. This page provides a brief summary of each project.

arbnco - Digital Energy Efficiency Platform (DEEP)

arbnco have developed a simple to use platform to enable businesses to effectively embark on a journey to becoming energy efficient and contribute to the transition to Net Zero carbon.

arbnco’s Digital Energy Efficiency Platform (DEEP) is designed to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement energy efficiency measures through an online platform. DEEP simplifies and automates the process of engaging with energy efficiency by targeting and optimising two critical components of a business energy performance: total energy consumption and the energy performance of its premises.  

The platform utilises a range of data sources to reduce overall energy consumption and generate a bespoke list of physical and behavioural energy efficiency recommendations together with costs, trusted suppliers and finance options. 

DEEP has undergone initial trials with Centrica’s SME customers and is now available for testing by businesses independent of who supplies their energy.

Businesses with a smart meter can sign up to participate in the trial

The project brings together expertise from arbnco, Centrica, Energy Systems Catapult, Aston Business School, Durham County Council and Cyan Finance. For further information please contact us at [email protected].

DEEP from arbnco

BRE - REZEE – a tool for energy efficiency in the residential care homes sector.

BRE is developing an innovative energy modelling tool and website to assist residential care home providers to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The website is designed to stimulate and enable energy efficiency improvements by:

• enabling care home providers to identify the most efficient and effective ways to improve the energy efficiency of their particular buildings
• providing independent and impartial guidance on ways to fund and procure energy efficiency improvements
• helping care homes find trusted suppliers and contractors
• ensuring care homes meet the relevant current government minimum energy efficiency standards and are compliant with the latest regulations

See the BRE care home website.

BRE also expanded the scope of the website and energy modelling tool to cover more types of non-domestic buildings, enabling a wider selection of SMEs to benefit from the tool and associated guidance. See this version of the website.

Considerate Hoteliers - Considerate’s EE Investment Cycle for SMEs

Aimed at busy hospitality businesses, Considerate Group’s mobile app – fluttr – is designed to help businesses save money and become more energy efficient by better managing their energy consumption and facilitating access to retrofit projects.

The sector consumes over 21,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, roughly the same as heating 1.2 million homes. Predictions show this could be reduced by around 20%. This means that, across the UK, hospitality businesses have the potential to save over £435 million by being more energy efficient. To help hospitality SMEs achieve these savings, Considerate developed fluttr.

How does it work?

How does fluttr work?

fluttr is designed to be a simple, easy-to-use energy efficiency app, and is a bit like having a teeny tiny energy saving expert in your pocket 24/7.

fluttr is a bespoke tool for hospitality SMEs. It connects to electricity smart meters to help businesses understand their energy consumption and make meaningful savings. fluttr gives job specific behavioural change tips to help staff reduce energy usage throughout the business, and gives users access to all the information, suppliers, and financial help needed to easily assess and instal energy efficiency projects.

To find out more or to get involved get in touch.

Element Energy - online tool using smart meter data to promote energy efficiency investments for SMEs

Element Energy has developed an online platform called E-CAT (Energy Comparison & Advice Tool). E-CAT uses SMEs’ smart meter data and business characteristics to assess and provide tailored information on energy efficiency investments (including the associated savings and payback times) that are appropriate to the SME’s specific context. It also provides tailored comparative feedback on how SMEs’ half-hourly energy usage compares to similar businesses, along with many other features to engage SMEs with their energy usage and support them to invest in energy efficiency. We are currently partnering with Drax Group and Octopus Energy to trial the online platform with their SME customers.

E-CAT has been designed as a scalable tool that can be used by the large number of smaller businesses that are within the scope of the smart meter rollout and aims to provide particular help for those businesses that may have limited capacity and resources for engaging in energy efficiency. By providing these businesses with an easy to use tool that only needs a smart meter data feed and basic information on the business to provide tailored analysis and advice, we aim to realise the large potential for energy efficiency which is distributed across this pool of businesses.

EnergyPro - ESCO-in-a-box

The ESCO-in-a-box project has delivered 2 main outputs:

1. Launch of a new ESCO (energy services company) called Energy Solutions Oxfordshire (ESOx), that is helping local businesses to implement energy efficiency measures. ESOx is collaboration between Low Carbon Hub and Oxford Brookes University.

2. Development of ESCO-in-a-box itself, an ‘operating system’ for local one-stop-shops like ESOx that engage SMEs with energy efficiency and clean energy, and deliver projects for them.ESCO-in-a-box has now been launched via a new licensing company, EPConnect, part of ep group.

ESCOs that use ESCO-in-a-box implement projects by working with local contractors and arranging finance, earning a fee for their services and thereby becoming self-funding over approximately 2-3 years. This approach can help SMEs take their first steps in becoming more energy efficient, and then support them all the way to net zero, with minimal reliance on grant funding.

Getting involved

• Businesses in Oxfordshire that want to improve their buildings and save cost, energy and carbon can contact ESOx
• EPConnect would like to hear from Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, Universities and community energy organisations who would like to establish a one-stop-shop for business energy efficiency in their area

Energy Solutions Oxfordshire

Hoare Lea - bundled technologies for the online marketplace

The Hoare Lea project aims to address the barriers faced by SMEs and landlords in securing energy efficiency investment to help increase energy efficiency in the non-domestic sector. This will be done through standardised contracts, specifications and processes to minimise ‘friction’ within the energy efficiency marketplace.  

The project will create:

• compelling product bundles for both landlords and tenants
• product and process standardisation to streamline procurement and investment
• capital investment and carbon reduction pathways
• systems to quantify reductions in energy use pre and post intervention
• clear pathways to net zero for a range of office and warehouse types

Visit Hoare Lea’s site for more information.

Joule Assets - smarter choices for SMEs

The Smarter Choices service will simplify and secure access to quality-assured building energy efficiency solutions for SMEs. VRM Technology are working with Joule Assets, Future Climate and Oxford Innovation. Together, they will offer an end-to-end energy efficiency service: from assessment through to financing, installation and in-use performance monitoring.

The Smarter Choices package will be available at a scale for a wide range of SME companies with a £50,000 minimum investment for energy conservation measures. This represents a significantly lower threshold than is currently available from existing energy service contract providers.

The Smarter Choices solution will provide, via a new single integrated digital platform:

• investment grade audits and a handholding service
• approved, quality-assured, installers for defined energy conservation measures (at full delivery stage)
• off-balance sheet finance package with due diligence and risk assessments for Energy Performance Contracting
• performance assurance and monitoring using gold standard measurement and verification protocols
• access to Energy Efficiency Performance Insurance
• energy and building performance monitoring using novel Internet of Things (IoT) technology

For more information visit Smarter choices UK.

Qbots - Q-Energy, a smart energy service platform for SME customers

The Energy Savers Club is a free-to-join, community based, carbon reduction club that encourages UK businesses to adopt energy efficiency measures by rewarding them for their energy saving actions.

All club members get their own personalised dashboard, allowing them to monitor their carbon emissions, receive recommendations and track the impact of their actions.

The dashboard automates the process of identifying and implementing energy efficiency opportunities, including smart controls, upgrades to HVAC, lighting, on-site solar and more.

This includes organising site surveys, reporting on energy saving measures, getting quotes from suppliers and installers, scheduling installations and offering funding and financing.

The Energy Savers Club has established a strong foothold with businesses in the North West region and is looking to expand its community clubs across the rest of the UK. Discussions are currently taking place with trade associations, business groups and community organisations to encourage wider participation.

This initiative is being led by smart energy services provider - Qbots Energy, along with partners including Energy Systems Catapult, Bryt Energy, Leapfrog Finance and Ask Inclusive Finance.

Join the Energy Savers Club as a member or get in contact for more information or to discuss partnership opportunities at [email protected] / 0161 706 0982.