Manchester-based energy tech startup nabs £180k government funding

A North West smart energy technology startup is set to receive six-figure funding as part of a government innovation competition on infrastructure systems.

Qbots, based in Manchester, will use the £180k boost to develop and test its smart energy management software with battery storage.

The work is part of the city’s Q-PLUS project, which is seeking to develop a commercial, research-led solution to some of the challenges the UK faces in clean energy generation.

Q-PLUS is co-funded by Innovate UK and led by Qbots in collaboration with the University of Manchester.

Qbots was founded in 2017 by Dr Li Yao, Vijay Natarajan and Kunrui Hua.

The company’s aim is to use Internet of Things, data analytics, machine learning and automation to enhance energy management through battery technology and accelerate the adoption of renewables.

Designed for building owners and energy managers, the firm’s system helps users optimise electricity consumption using battery storage facilities based either in-house or in a shared facility.

Vijay Natarajan, marketing director at Qbots, said: “The funding will enable us to make use of University of Manchester’s world-class battery storage research facilities and will help create new jobs in the region within automation and data analytics.”