programmes

Zero-Emission Heavy Goods Vehicles

Connected Places Catapult is helping to accelerate the transition to zero-emission heavy goods vehicles.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are vital to industry and represent the backbone of trade and commerce worldwide. They are responsible for ensuring we have access to food, medicines, and goods of all kinds.

Almost 90% of domestic goods transported in the UK in 2022 were moved by road – the vast majority of which by HGVs. These vehicles currently produce approximately 19% of all UK domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, this must be reduced to zero, in line with the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy.

Connected Places Catapult is supporting Innovate UK and the Department for Transport with the Zero-Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, which represents a public investment of up to £200 million, match-funded by industry. The programme is deploying the first large (40+ tonne) zero-emission HGVs in significant numbers, together with supporting infrastructure, which will enable freight operators to determine the suitability of the new technology for their operations. Public-facing battery-electric charging stations and hydrogen refuelling stations will enable HGVs to go beyond ‘back to base’ operations.

Together with the British Standards Institution (BSI), Connected Places Catapult is supporting partners involved in the Innovate UK-funded demonstrations, and stakeholders in the wider zero-emission HGV ecosystem.

In the coming weeks, we will publish a suite of reports, including:

• UK Investment Prospectus for Zero Emission HGVs and Infrastructure
  For those considering investing in or financing zero emission HGVs, or charging or refuelling infrastructure in the UK. The prospectus outlines the exciting opportunities in this growing market and highlights the UK’s strong foundations for investment in zero emission HGVs and infrastructure.
• Ensuring safety in the transition to zero emission road freight
  Best practice guidance for developing and operating safe refuelling and recharging infrastructure for zero emission HGVs.
• Planning and delivery of infrastructure for zero emission HGVs
  Setting out the key considerations and optimal pathways for the planning and delivery of zero-emission HGV infrastructure.
• Investment and Export Potential for the UK’s Zero Emissions Road Freight sector
  Explores the scale of the opportunity for the UK market and discusses current challenges to attracting investment and finance to the sector. The report concludes with recommendations for industry and policymakers to support the sector overcome these challenges.

To be notified as soon as these reports are available, please complete this form.

• BSI Flex 2071 v2.0 – Publicly Accessible Charging Sites for Battery Electric HGVs.

BSI Flex 2071 offers recommendations on how to design charging sites for battery electric HGVs, including safety considerations and optimal layouts.

• BSI Flex 2072 v1.0 – Workshops for Zero Emission Heavy-Duty Vehicles

Specification for operating workshops, inspection, and maintenance of battery electric and hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty vehicles.

• BSI Flex 2073 v1.0 – Design and Implementation of Hydrogen Refuelling Sites

Design recommendations and implementation of mobile and static hydrogen refuelling sites – Code of practice.

Further background on our standards work can be viewed here.

How do I get involved?

If you’d like to find out more, please email us at zeroemissionroadfreight@cp.catapult.org.uk.

Complete this form to be notified when new reports are available.

reports

Green shipping corridors: a holistic approach to decarbonising maritime

Urgent action is needed to address shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions

The UK Government made a pledge in the Clydebank Declaration at COP26 to establish six green shipping corridors by 2026.  This report describes in detail a pathway to deliver, what could be the first in the UK, between Liverpool and Belfast. This route is approximately 130 nautical miles and is one of the busiest routes in the Irish Sea, connecting the two major UK cities. A green shipping corridor is defined by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UKSHORE) as zero emission maritime routes between two or more ports, and are seen as vital for encouraging the development of vessel and shoreside technology in clean maritime.

Maritime, shipping and the movement of goods and people in the region via its ports is a major economic driver for both Liverpool and Belfast, contributing £5BN in economic activity.  However this activity also attracts significant global greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to poor air quality locally.  The UK is committed to see these emissions reduce and recognises that as an Island Nation, this represents a sizeable challenge and opportunity to transition to low or net zero emissions.   This report is a summation of a lot of focused work by a large stakeholder group in examining options for decarbonising a route linking the Ports of Liverpool and Belfast, to demonstrate it is possible and establish a blueprint available for scaling to other routes, perhaps initially in the Irish Sea Region and then further afield.

This report captures what is needed to establish a green shipping corridor and identifies 29 suitable pilot projects to develop the corridor further and secure a leading international role in green ports and shipping for the UK. Green shipping corridors require a systems approach to implementation and to consider each element that contributes directly to the reduction of carbon emissions or provides a part of the enabling environment to support this reduction. We have identified the existing assets and enabling components of the maritime ecosystem, including subjects such as fuel production and communication systems, as well as governance and skills.  This is a substantive tome full of rich detail covering nationally applicable matters but through a focused place lens.  Delivering a Green Shipping Corridor is complex, but this work has shown us that with a well motivated stakeholder group this can be broken down in to manageable and crucially investible projects ready for delivery.

This report is an output of an Innovate UK funded programme, Pulse, which examined a suite of challenges in the aviation and maritime sectors.  The report has been prepared by Connected Places Catapult, working in collaboration with Royal HaskoningDHV, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Queens University Belfast, and Mersey Maritime.

This report is part of a larger body of ongoing work to decarbonise the maritime sector, supported principally by the Department for Transport, Department for Business & Trade, the National Shipbuilding Office and Innovate UK.  UKSHORE supported by Innovate UK has administered the Clean Maritime Demonstration programme, investing £206M of grants with private sector match funding since 2022 across a host of propulsion and infrastructure projects.  This includes investing in selection of feasibility studies into Clean / Green Shipping Corridors between the UK and Europe, which are due to conclude by Spring 2025.

Liverpool Belfast Green Shipping Corridor Executive Summary

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Liverpool Belfast Green Shipping Corridor Report

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news

West Midlands green transport innovators secure funding and support

From automating EV charging to designing lightweight components, 19 firms with ideas to make transport greener have been selected to join the latest cohort on the Clean Futures accelerator.

29.08.24 BIRMINGHAM, Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, has today announced 19 small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) selected to join the Clean Futures accelerator programme in the West Midlands.

Now in its second year, the accelerator has already supported 20 SMEs through the first year’s cohort. 18 out of 20 companies participating in the first year have entered serious discussions with new customers about their innovations. £2.6 million has so far been secured for SMEs through contracts or research and development funding; with a further £43 million in the commercial pipeline. So far, £1.3 million has been raised in private investment, with a further £27 million pending.

The companies chosen to join this year’s new cohort will each receive up to £50,000 to trial their solutions over the next six months. Their solutions respond to challenges associated with the rail and automotive manufacturing sectors. These include clean and efficient vehicle manufacturing and assembly design; the production of cost-effective solutions for clean transportation infrastructure; and the production, transport, and storage of alternative fuels such as hydrogen or biofuels.

Alongside funding, the accelerator will also provide the businesses with bespoke technical and commercial support, utilising expertise and cutting-edge facilities at the BCIMO in Dudley and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Coventry University. The cohort will also be provided with networking and showcasing opportunities to connect with industry and financial partners.

The companies selected are:

Aeroforge
Alucast
Composite Braiding Ltd
EnginSoft UK Ltd
Extend Robotics
GBR Rail Ltd
Geospatial Ventures
Grinsty
Integrated Systems Engineering
LiBatt Recycling
MOLE
Moasure
Moonbility
OX Delivers
Raeon Ltd
Taraz Metrology Ltd
Treeva
Unipart Powertrain Applications
Vanguard

Find out more about each of the companies in the cohort brochure.

Clean Futures is led by Connected Places Catapult, alongside the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), Coventry University and Coventry University Services. It is part of the wider West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, which is designed to bolster the region’s innovation and R&D capability and capacity to spark commercial growth and investment. The West Midlands Innovation Accelerator is delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

“Clean Futures is supporting the West Midlands to be at the heart of the green industrial revolution. Through our close collaboration with BCIMO and Coventry University, we are enabling green transport innovators in the West Midlands to test their ideas and build their businesses.
“The first-year cohort of businesses on this programme has already seen millions of pounds worth of contracts and investments secured, and I’m excited to see what this year’s cohort can achieve.”

Alex Cousins, Director – Regions at Connected Places Catapult

“Clean Futures is helping the region move towards being net zero by 2041 and we’ve already seen huge successes with the first cohort of SMEs involved in the accelerator programme. We are excited to see what the next group of entrepreneurs can bring to the table and use Coventry University’s cutting edge research facilities to make a difference here in the West Midlands and further afield.”

Professor Marcos Kauffman, Director of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Coventry University

events

Innovation Zero 2024

The UK's largest net-zero congress

Register now

Event finished: 1st May 2024

We are delighted to once again participate in Innovation Zero, and we’re contributing to a number of sessions, including: 

Andrew Chadwick, Ecosystem Director, Air Mobility & Airports, joining the Fuelling Flight: Hydrogen session on 1 May at 11:45.

Alison Young, Head of Global Investment, joining the session on Funding the Automotive Transformation, on 1 May at 12:25 in the Transport & Mobility Forum.

events

Connected North 2024

Delivering the North's Connected Future

Register now

Event finished: 23rd April 2024

We are hosting a Digital Twin Hub session on Day 1, 22 April at 2pm, titled ‘Digital twins driving innovation in the North – Explore innovative projects that look to catapult the North of the UK into a bright digital future’. Join Nury Moreira, Community Manager of Digital Twin Hub, and other speakers for an inspiring conversation.

events

UKREiiF 2024

The UK's Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum

Register now

Event finished: 23rd May 2024

This year, we are proud to host our own Pavilion, a place designed to showcase real innovation, and provide opportunities to connect with thought leaders, and UK and global peers.

To review our full Agenda of sessions and activities taking place over the three days and plan your visit, please head to the UKREiiF website > Programme tab > Download Programme or > Click on the Connected Places Catapult Pavilion dot to browse online.

Make sure to visit our Pavilion in Pavilion Square, we look forward to connecting with you in Leeds!

opportunities

Hydrogen Innovation Initiative Demonstration 23-24

Companies can apply for up to £50k to trial technology related to the production, conversion, distribution or end use of hydrogen

The Opportunity

Hydrogen presents a huge opportunity for UK to build new supply chains, targeting the $2.5trillion global hydrogen market by 2050.

The Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) has been created as a strategic national programme to make hydrogen work for the UK and ensure that we seize this opportunity.

Connected Places Catapult, acting as a partner of the HII, is looking to procure results from near term demonstrations, and has allocated a budget of up to £50,000 per project to contribute to the costs of the demonstration activities. In exchange, Connected Places Catapult and HII partners will be entitled to widely disseminate the results from the demonstration activities.

This high TRL demonstration must cover 2 or more of:

• Hydrogen production
• Hydrogen conversion
• Hydrogen distribution
• Hydrogen end use.

The demonstration needs to be in the latter stages of planning, with a consortium of funded and suitable partners already engaged. The demonstration activity and reporting should be complete by November 2024.

There will be a requirement for the applicant to submit a demonstration methodology and deliver an end of project report, which HII partners will publish, to help disseminate the learnings from the demonstration to the wider hydrogen supply chain. HII partners would encourage applicants to also articulate any specific requests for further support from HII partners which could support this demonstration (for example, developing material data sets in collaboration with this demonstration).

Eligibility

Your business must:

• Have a UK-registered address
• Be in the latter stages of planning a high TRL (5-7) hydrogen demonstrator.’
• Be willing to attend regular online meetings with HII partners, and any final showcase of demonstration activities in person, to be discussed in due course.

Companies have until midday on 12 January 2024 to apply.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact Raj Ragiwala.

opportunities

Shaping the Future, Today

Applications are now closed

Future Focused Solutions for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation – Open Call and Investment Forum for UK and UAE Businesses

The COP28 – Net Zero Mitigation & Resilience Solutions for the UAE programme is seeking to develop long-term, business led research and innovation collaborations between UAE based investors and SMEs and the UK to address pivotal climate change mitigation and resilience challenges.  
 
Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Gulf Strategy Fund, this programme is responding to three opportunities outlined in the 2023 iteration of Dubai Future Foundation’s The Global 50 future opportunities report. The challenges have been chosen to create collaborations that merge local and UK expertise.  
 
We will work with Dubai Future Foundation and Expo City Dubai to offer UK and UAE SMEs the opportunity to connect and collaborate on solutions to three challenges focusing on minimising environmental risks, harnessing nature’s capacity to restore itself and radically changing ways of life by replacing the models that countries, communities and individuals live by. 
 
For each challenge, we will select 4 SMEs, two based in the UK and two based in UAE to showcase their solution to the challenge in Dubai at the end of March 2024. The selected companies will also present their business to a selected group of UAE– based investors at an Investor Pitch Evening. Where appropriate and viable, the showcase presentations may be selected to be installed at Expo City Dubai, or other suitable venues, for a period of 3 months.

Key dates

Programme Challenges

Learn more about the challenges here

Read more

The Dubai Future Foundation is at the forefront of creating innovation platforms that allow for ideas to take shape through strategic collaboration locally in Dubai and globally, shaping a better future.

Among the organisation’s initiatives, The Global 50 shares Dubai Future Foundation’s view of the future and outlines 50 opportunities for growth, prosperity and well-being. Some of these opportunities may be in their early days of exploration, some require reflection and some feel very far away.

Connected Places Catapult’s technology experts have chosen three specific challenges from the 2023 edition of The Global 50 which link to accelerating innovation in our cities and will allow us to explore specific ideas and initiatives that can bring positive long-term financial, environmental and societal outcomes.

1: What if the next wave of car technology innovation was in the wheels? 

A series of technological innovations in the wheels redefine the future of car transport – from maglev (magnetic levitation) solutions and drone-like technologies to the replacement of rubber in tyres and new ways of conceptualising the function of wheels on a car. 
 
We are particularly interested in sensor / AI driven solutions to optimising tyre and brake wear and reducing pollutants for EVs. 

Why it matters today: Tyres and brake systems produce large amounts of microplastics as by-products. Up to 100,000 tonnes of microplastics from tyres end up in the ocean each year and a further 40,000 tonnes of microplastics come from wear and tear on car brakes. With the average scrapped car tyre weighing 9 kg, the amount of microplastics discharged into the ocean is equivalent to 11 million tyres each year. Research suggests that nanoparticles generated from road traffic can cause harm, and increased road traffic is a major cause of high particle concentrations in polluted urban areas. Atmospheric particulate matter was recognised as the leading cause of 43,000 premature deaths in Europe by the European Environment Agency in 2015.

The opportunity: The transport landscape is changing. Imaginative new applications of drone or maglev (magnetic levitation) technology could be the future. For example, in one scenario, there could be hybrid vehicles that are capable of running on electricity or alternative fuels but that switch over to maglev mode when the infrastructure is available. This would prevent the release of nanoparticles of dust, plastic and minerals into the atmosphere, as well as reducing noise levels. Such solutions would make the roads cleaner, improving ecosystems and human health.

Replacing rubber tyres with new materials and new wheel and brake technologies can minimise wear and tear on both vehicles and road surfaces. When used safely, lower-friction – or even frictionless solutions, augmented by advanced machine intelligence and autonomous systems – can cut energy consumption, enabling electric vehicles to travel further.

Wheels could become multifunctional. Rethinking the functionality of wheels and tyres beyond simply transportation and carrying the load of the car could lead to the development of wheels that can generate energy, filter nanoparticles and absorb emissions, among other applications.

2: What if we could absorb greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter on demand anywhere in the world?

Enabled by materials science, automation and advanced machine intelligence, emissions and particulate matter are absorbed on an as-needed basis, anywhere in the world, independent of technological capabilities available on hand. 

Why it matters today: On average, those living in the largest urban cities in the MENA region breathe in 10 times the level of pollutants in the air that the World Health Organization considers safe.

The opportunity: Clean air will one day be a critical need if climate change persists. Materials science, automation and advanced machine intelligence could contribute to the invention of a mobile emissions and particulate matter (PM) scrubber that could absorb carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases and PM anywhere in the world. If this idea were scaled, scrubbers could be positioned at sea as offshore platforms to absorb emissions and PM. 

Mobile emissions and PM scrubbers could be standalone solutions powered by renewable sources of energy. Using advanced materials, they could efficiently absorb greenhouse gases and PM and either store them for later use or convert them into fuel and other non-harmful, possibly useful chemicals. 

3: What if deliveries went underground?

An AI-powered pneumatic tube system for city-wide delivery on demand that offers a completely integrated OnDemand delivery model reviving an old approach with the technological advances needed. 

The opportunity: The idea of a city-wide pneumatic tube system is not new – no longer operational because of high operational costs, the New York postal service was connected in 1897 through pipes that delivered letters and parcels around the city.  

New materials, new building techniques and automated, AI-powered distribution centres could offer completely integrated on-demand delivery models giving traction in reviving the former approach. Pneumatic tunnels (also called vacuum tunnels) embedded into the urban infrastructure to connect buildings and distribution nodes could offer ‘beyond-the-doorstep’ delivery solutions to hospitals and other critical services. With development costs integrated into zoning and real estate plans, the tunnel system could be run on a pay-per-use basis. 

Integrating small robotic distribution centres around cities would mean that packages could be electronically tagged for delivery to an address and loaded into a sealed pipe for instant dispatch. Buildings would be equipped with hatches where goods could be sent and received. Perfect traceability of goods from dispatch to delivery would be guaranteed, as the system would automatically track tagged goods via distributed ledger technology databases. 

Whats’ on offer to SMEs?

6 UK and 6 UAE companies will be selected to participate in this programme and benefit from tailored support from Connected Places Catapult experts, and funding leading up to the presentation of their solutions and investor pitches.

UK Based SMEs will be provided with financial assistance up to £10k in total value to develop their showcase presentations and cover the travel and accommodation for the trip to Dubai in March 2024.

Am I eligible for this programme?

UK SME eligibility criteria for UK organisations:

• You must be a registered UK company.
• You are ready and willing to collaborate and showcase your solution in the UAE.
• You need to be export-ready, but no previous export experience is required.
• The technology on which your solution (product or service) will be based should be TRL 3-4 and above, e.g., at proof of concept stage or above.
• Desire to expand internationally.

UAE SME eligibility criteria:

• You must be a registered organisation according to your national legislation.
• You are ready and willing to collaborate and showcase your solution.
• You need to be export-ready, but no previous export experience is required.
• The technology on which your solution (product or service) will be based should be TRL 3-4 and above.
• Desire to expand internationally.

How to apply

Please register through the link below. Applications close midnight 28 January 2024

Supporting documents

Competition scope

Selection criteria

Point of contact

If you have any questions about the programme and application, please contact:

Megan Ford, SME Ecosystem Support Officer, megan.ford@cp.catapult.org.uk  

Application Support Webinar

We will host an application support webinar, with a date to be confirmed shortly.

This webinar will cover the background to the programme, the challenges it is aiming to address, how the programme will benefit SMEs, guidance on how to apply and information on the application process.

News

Carbon reduction champions shortlisted in National Highways programme

Innovative low carbon approaches to road construction and maintenance will receive funding and business support.

Seven companies have been selected to join a carbon reduction competition organised by National Highways and Connected Places Catapult.

Innovative ideas put forward to proceed to the second phase of the National Highways Accelerating Low Carbon Innovation Programme include a climbing robot that carries out structural inspections, ‘smart fibre’ plastic bridge beams that monitor structural performance and low carbon fencing materials.

Each shortlisted company will receive between £15,000 and £30,000 to develop their proposals in collaboration with National Highways and several Tier 1 suppliers. Connected Places Catapult will provide coaching, help with marketing strategy and investment support.

The seven companies and their ideas making it through to the next stage of the competition are:

Asset International Structures (Cwmbran) – Developing smart fibre reinforced plastic bridge beams that incorporate optical fibre, enabling structural performance monitoring in real time.

Circular11 (Ferndown) – Providing durable, low carbon fencing and acoustic insulation products; turning mixed low-grade plastic waste into composite material.

HausBots (Birmingham) – Delivering a series of structural inspections using a unique climbing and crawling robot fitted with inspection sensors.

Loopcycle (London) – Creation of a whole life carbon measurement and circular economy tool for use across highway estate assets.

Low Carbon Materials (Seaham) – Delivering a carbon negative aggregate for use in carbon neutral asphalt.

PRG (Scotland) (Hamilton) – Turning waste tyres into useful materials such as a bitumen-like substance for use in road construction and repairs.

Xeroc (London) ­­–­­ Recycling old concrete into new concrete, returning each component to its original form with as little contamination as possible.

Alex Weedon, Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult, SME Development and Academic Engagement said: “National Highways’ goal of achieving net zero emissions involves finding innovative solutions to support decarbonisation, particularly in the maintenance and construction of the strategic road network.

“Connected Places Catapult is proud to have been chosen as a delivery partner for this accelerator project. We look forward to supporting the SMEs in the development of their solutions, and turning bright ideas into commercial products and services.”

Alex Weedon, Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult, SME Development and Academic Engagement

National Highways aims for its maintenance and road construction activities to generate net zero emissions by 2040.

The competition set four challenges for innovative companies to address with their new ideas: alternative materials; decision making enablers for asset management and the whole life value of assets; enablers for the circular economy; and an open challenge.

“We want to speed up innovation within our sector and adopt new solutions. The innovation accelerator will help take potential solutions and drive them through the research and testing phases.”

Dr Joanna White, National Highways Roads Development Director

National Highways Accelerating Low Carbon Innovation Programme Cohort Brochure

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