Credit: Kraken Technologies
Technology company says it wants to make the city the 'Silicon Valley of energy'
Kraken Technology, the energy software arm of Octopus Energy Group, has opened a new clean technology R&D hub in Manchester, as it set out its intention to make the city a hub for clean energy innovation.
Located in the historic Pariser Building in central Manchester, the site will provide an office for more than 200 Kraken employees and become a testing hub for integrating third-party devices with the firm's energy platform, the technology company said.
Kraken said it expected the hub to accelerate the UK's transformation to a clean energy superpower, as it looks to make Manchester the "Silicon Valley of Energy".
Kraken provides its flexibility platform to a number of energy retail giants, including parent company Octopus Energy, as well as Tokyo Gas, E.ON, Origin Energy, and others.
It said the new Manchester innovation hub would help its partners "boost their products' usability" and expand their reach to more homes, customers, and businesses.
"Our new EnTech superhub is a game-changer for the UK's renewable ambitions and will speed up the country's transformation into a clean energy superpower," said Devrim Celal, CEO of Kraken Technologies. "Manchester is on track to becoming the Silicon Valley for energy tech. With this facility, we're not just laying the groundwork for a greener, smarter energy system - we're creating a more sustainable and affordable future for all."
Automotive leaders BYD and Ford, battery pioneers Tesla, Enphase Energy, SolarEdge, and GivEnergy, EV charge point players Indra Renewable Technologies, Hypervolt, Ohme, and Myenergi, and heat pump providers Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin are all partnering with Kraken on the launch of the hub, according to the company.
The hub is being launched in the same week innovation centre Digital Catapult announced the launch of its Made Smarter Innovation Accelerator programme.
Delivered by Digital Catapult and funded by Made Smarter and government innovation agency Innovate UK, the accelerator scheme will support eight technology companies developing solutions focused on improving resource and energy efficiency in manufacturing.
The start-ups have been partnered with BAE Systems, HS2, and Creagh Concrete to co-develop their solutions, and will receive a range of support services in the form of sustainability masterclasses, technical monitoring, innovation expertise, and peer-to-peer support.
"With UK manufacturing touted as one of the silver bullets to sustainable economic growth, there is growing demand for manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, and prove that this commitment yields significant commercial benefit," said Justin Cross, director of innovation practice at Digital Catapult. "The UK was the 8th largest global manufacturer last year, so we are in a prime position to show the rest of the world that sustainable innovation and smart manufacturing are key to achieving long-term economic prosperity."
Cross added: "I'm confident that these innovative solutions will improve energy efficiency and optimise resource use, and I'd like to congratulate the start-ups for joining this pioneering new programme."
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