London’s Green Tech Stars Shine in Sunday Times BGF 10 Green Tech to Watch
Fast Track’s insider research paired with BGF’s backing has spotlighted four London‑based trailblazers that are turning the climate crisis into a tech playground. These four companies are up top in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100’s inaugural 10 Green Tech to Watch list – a fan‑fare for the UK’s fastest‑growing private tech firms.
Meet the Green Innovators
- Highview Power – basically a cool‑enough energy storage wizard. They chill air down to −196 °C, pump it into liquid form, and when the power is needed, the liquid shoots out to spin turbines and generate clean electricity. Think of it as “air‑to‑electricity” but cooler.
- EnvoPAP – paper rebels with a zero‑tree‑budget. By mixing agricultural waste and wild grass fibres, they produce office paper and packaging that is both stylish and eco‑friendly. No trees, no problem!
- Carbon Clean – the cost‑slicing carbon‑capture specialist. They’ve managed to slash the price of pulling CO₂ out of industrial emissions by more than half, making the whole operation less pricey and far more scalable.
- Whitefox Technologies – the membrane masters. Their tech efficiently scoops extra water from biofuel production, and it’s being used across continents from Germany to Guyana. A small device with a big splash.
Why It Matters
Stephen Welton, BGF’s executive chairman, stresses that “getting net‑zero into reality is a huge opportunity for investors.” He also hints that BGF is shifting gears: their sustainable investment slice will grow from 5% now to a hefty 20% in the next 18 months. This means more capital for green tech and more innovators like the four London companies mentioned.
Who’s Behind the Celebration?
The Sunday Times teamed up with Fast Track’s research lab, while BGF’s funding dollars keep the green wave rolling. With the Covid‑19 crisis behind us, the shift toward an eco‑centric economy is happening faster than ever. The 10 Green Tech to Watch list is a launchpad to put these companies under the spotlight.
Bottom line: London’s green tech scene is heating up, and it’s not just the temperature that’s rising – it’s hope, innovation, and a tech‑savvy future for our planet.
The 2020 Sunday Times BGF 10 Green Tech to Watch includes the following companies:
Meet the UK’s Green‑Tech Trailblazers
From battery‑busting labs in Birmingham to cooling‑pioneers in Sheffield, this squad of startups is turning world‑changing ideas into tangible products—while bragging about the money they’ve scrounged in.
Aceleron – Next‑Gen Batteries for Your Home
- Founded: 2016 | HQ: Birmingham
- FY end: Dec 2019 | Sales: ~£1 M (incl. grant)
- Funding: £2.9 M (BGF £1.45 M + others)
- People: CEO Amrit Chandan (31) + CTO Carlton Cummins (31)
- Claim: “world’s first upgradable, recyclable lithium battery.” Bring on the reusable power packs!
Carbon Clean – Crushing CO₂ in the Industrial Kitchen
- Founded: 2009 | HQ: Central London
- FY end: Mar 2020 | Sales: ~£1.5 M
- Funding: £24.7 M (₹17 M this year + £25 M total)
- Crew: CEO Aniruddha Sharma (33) & CTO Prateek Bumb (35)
- Technique cuts CO₂ by 90 %—cheers to cleaner factories!
CoGen – Turning Trash into Energy
- Founded: 2014 | HQ: Stoke‑on‑Trent
- FY end: Nov 2018 | Sales: ~£10 M
- Head Count: 19 | Funding: Not disclosed
- Partners: Lockheed Martin & Balfour Beatty; investors: Foresight VC, Stantec
- Partially gasify waste → Renewable power; no landfill, just green energy!
EnvoPAP – Paper That Doesn’t Kill Trees
- Founded: 2015 | HQ: Central London
- FY end: Mar 2020 | Sales: ~£1.9 M
- Funding: £0.8 M (Founders Factory)
- CEO: Kaushal Shah (28, ex‑student)
- Mixes agri‑waste & wild grass fibers → “tree‑free” paper for L’Oréal & Lloyds
Highview Power – Air‑Liquefaction & Clean Energy
- Founded: 2002 | HQ: Central London</
- FY end: Dec 2019 | Sales: >£10 M | Funding: c£74 M
- Employees: 40
- CEO: Javier Cavada (44)
- SAt? The firm cools air to –196 °C, then spins it back into power. Sumitomo pumped in £35 M; the UK govt gave a £10 M grant.
i2O Water – Smarter Water Control
- Founded: 2005 | HQ: Southampton
- FY end: Dec 2018 | Sales: ~£3 M | Funding: £31 M+
- Employees: 52
- CEO: Joel Hagan (51)
- Over 100 utilities, 47 countries—think Anglian Water + Cape Town—using its water‑monitoring platform.
Iceotope – Chilling the Data‑Center Heat
- Founded: 2012 | HQ: Sheffield
- FY end: Dec 2019 | Sales: ~£2 M | Funding: £14 M
- Employees: 42
- CEO: David Craig (56)
- Liquid cooling outsources the fan bill; saves energy & money.
Monodraught – Low‑Energy Ventilation for Big Brands
- Founded: 1974 | HQ: High Wycombe
- FY end: Dec 2019 | Sales: ~£11 M | Funding: £2.7 M
- Employees: 82
- MD: Andrew McCubbin (51)
- Products power Waitrose, Ford & IKEA—400k tonnes CO₂ saved over 20 yr.
OXIS Energy – Battery Brains That Pack More Energy
- Founded: 2005 | HQ: Oxfordshire
- FY end: Dec 2019 | Sales: ~£2.3 M | Funding: £49 M
- Employees: 80
- CEO: Huw Hampson‑Jones (65)
- Li‑Sulphur batteries with 5× the energy density of lithium‑ion—building a factory in Brazil, opening 2023.
Whitefox Technologies – Eco‑Smart Water Filtration
- Founded: 2000 | HQ: Central London
- FY end: Dec 2019 | Sales: ~£5.7 M | Funding: £8.9 M
- Employees: 29
- CTO: Stephen Blum (59), CEO Gillian Harrison (46)
- Filters water from biofuel production in places from Germany to Guyana—keeps the world cleaner.
With a mix of quirky entrepreneurs, aggressive funding rosters, and a splash of humor, these companies illustrate that the UK’s green‑tech scene isn’t only about marginal gains—it’s about a massive, world‑altering impact. If you’re curious about any of these ventures, keep a penny pinched and watch for the next big breakthrough.
