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Startups are Turning Energy Mirage into Reality
- Jeremy Wickremer
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
The promise of cheap, clean, renewable energy has been on the horizon for many years. Like a desert mirage, it has been a dream tantalisingly out of reach.
We still rely on carbon-emitting fossil fuels for over 90% of transport and 85% of home heating in the UK. But on the positive side, official statistics show that renewables generated a record 50.8% of the UK’s electricity in 2024.
In addition, the net zero economy is already growing three times faster than the wider UK economy. And in the year to June, more than £40 billion of private investment in clean energy was announced, boosting hopes that a new wave of renewable energy companies would realise the clean energy dream.
Sustainable Times will be celebrating the achievements of some of these firms, alongside other sustainability-focused startups, in the 2025 RISE Awards in November.
Bringing fusion energy into reality
One pioneering firm seeking to reduce our reliance of fossil fuels is Tokamak Energy, a world-leading fusion energy company with an operational facility just outside Didcot in Oxfordshire. Founded in 2009 as a spin-off from UK Atomic Energy Authority, the firm employs more than 280 scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial experts.
Tokamak takes its name from the spherical device (see image) that confines hot plasma using powerful magnetic fields, which is a critical element of controlled nuclear fusion. The firm owns 77 families of patent applications and has raised $335 million, comprising $275 million from private investors and $60 million from the UK and US governments.
On a site visit, Product Development Manager Nadia Gjerdingen told Sustainable Times the firm’s success was built on two transformative technologies.
“The first, which we have been developing since 2009, is the compact spherical tokamak designed to be more efficient than the traditional ring doughnut shape, with lower capital investment, operating costs and a smaller design. The second is Tokamak Energy Magnetics.” This is the business unit focused on deployment of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, which are crucial to confining plasma (the gas where the fusion occurs), enabling the replication of the conditions found in stars. In collaboration with manufacturing partners, Tokamak Energy Magnetics aims to supply its magnet systems to other fusion companies to accelerate commercial development, as well as address exciting new applications for HTS, including; renewable energy, medicine, science and propulsion in water, land, air and space.
With the relatively small scale of the firm’s reactor design and low safety risk, it can be located close to energy users, giving it an advantage over renewables such as offshore wind. It also has the potential to provide clean energy 24/7. The company is now working with several governments on national fusion programmes, including a partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the US Department of Energy for a $52m upgrade to its record-breaking spherical tokamak ST40.
Governmental support for fusion was recently underlined by last week’s announcement that the UK will be the first country to develop fusion-specific planning rules.
“We are backing the builders not the blockers - paving the way for the UK to become a clean energy superpower and ensuring that limitless fusion energy plays a key role in our future clean energy mix,” said Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Scaling up hydrogen power
Another exciting area in renewables is hydrogen, already used as a critical power source across a range of industries. One of the companies delivering innovative hydrogen technology is GeoPura. Its hydrogen power units (HPUs), manufactured in collaboration with Siemens Energy, provide clean, reliable electricity on demand, replacing diesel generators and supplementing the grid across industries ranging from construction to event management.
Their power units generate green hydrogen from renewables using electrolysis, a process that uses green electricity, typically from solar or wind power, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This creates a zero-emission alternative fuel that can be used to decarbonise power, transport, and industry.
GeoPura’s units have already been used on film sets for clients including Amazon, Netflix and the BBC, eliminating harmful CO₂, NOx, and particulate emissions from diesel generators. The only output from the power units is water, which has been used by film crews to dampen PGA tour golf courses.
With the flexibility to operate off-grid and generate up to 50 megawatts, GeoPura’s applications include film sets, construction sites, EV charging, data centres, and back-up power for other energy supplies. Started in 2019 and with 130 employees, the firm’s next challenge is scaling up. Backed by privately funded equity and asset-backed investors, GeoPura aims to grow from 70 to 3,600 generators in the next 18 months.
"Customers choose hydrogen power because it delivers zero-emission energy where and when it's needed most,” says Matt Barney, Chief Hydrogen Development Officer.
“Whether off-grid or supporting a limited power supply, hydrogen provides a reliable and proven solution that cuts carbon, protects air quality and supports both climate goals and public health.”
Building green transport infrastructure
One of our biggest challenges in the transition to renewables is the transport sector. Domestic transport accounted for 30% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. One of the companies that is looking to tackle this problem is Zenobē, an international electric vehicle (EV) fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist. The company began operations in 2017 and now employs over 300 people with diverse skills on the back of a track record in delivering fleet financing and electrification projects at scale.
In the UK, Zenobē supports 130 emission-free buses in Coventry for National Express, and has transformed Go-Ahead's Oxford bus depot by installing 104 charging points. It supports the National Grid with the uptake of renewable power and works with circa 90% of major bus companies, powering 25% of the UK e-bus market. Since 2022 Zenobē has also developed projects in Europe, including installation of an on-site battery for Belgium construction giant Aertssen. This stores surplus renewable energy generated by solar panels which is then used to charge tractors and forklifts during the night.
Last week Zenobē secured a €325 million debt facility from a syndicate of local and global banks to fund the expansion of its electric fleets-as-a-service and revolutionise urban mobility with up to 1,000 state-of-the-art electric buses or trucks, alongside charging Infrastructure across Europe.
“We not only offer financial backing but also provide the expert guidance necessary to empower fleet operators to switch to electric. By reducing the total cost of ownership for electric fleets through bespoke financing, optimisation software, energy management and more, we are committed to enhancing the economic viability and accessibility of electric transport across Europe,” says Steven Meersman, Founder Director at Zenobē
Growing demand needs a mix of solutions
With ambitious goals, including net zero by 2050, the UK is making significant progress in the transition to renewable energy. Frankie Mayo, Senior Energy and Climate Analyst at Ember, a global energy think tank, says that hydrogen and nuclear fusion will both play a vital part in this transition. Currently, wind power, solar, and biomass provide the largest chunk of renewables in the UK, with new records being set and recorded by the National Grid on a monthly basis.
Mayo says: “There is an expectation that our electricity needs will grow significantly with increased demand primarily coming from electric vehicles and AI datacentres, and this will require a mix of energy sources.”
Other solutions that will help accelerate the transition include battery storage and infrastructure plays such as EV charging facilities and networks. Mayo points out that consumers need to be given the incentive to change to renewables, with greater convenience and lower cost creating jobs in manufacturing, from turbine blades to electric cars. “As a country, we have the opportunity to reduce our reliance on imported energy if we can produce our own cheap clean energy.”
The companies featured in this article are all helping to realise the dream of clean, cheap and reliable energy with sustainable business models. They are seizing growth opportunities by deploying advancements in technology, but also by equipping a skilled workforce. As such, they are well positioned to benefit from policy and funding support for renewable energy.
It will take a combination of economic incentives, industry innovation, and both public and private investment to drive the green energy transition. But the emergence of viable technologies looks set to deliver cheap, clean and limitless energy.
Are you a UK-based startup, scaleup, or investment manager working to solve critical sustainability challenges?
The 2025 Sustainable Times RISE Awards celebrate impactful startups and growth ventures driving innovation across sustainability and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) areas. With 19 award categories, the RISE Awards honour companies and investors who are reshaping the future—from climate tech and the circular economy to financial inclusion and social equity.
By entering the awards, you can connect with other changemakers, spread the word about your innovations, and gain business-changing recognition.
Shine a light on your efforts—apply to the 2025 Sustainable Times RISE Awards by 31 August.