Energy catalyst round 11 – late stage

Overview

This strand is for later-stage projects aiming to create new or improved clean energy access, with real-world testing or demonstration in an eligible ODA country. You’ll need a credible consortium, a strong delivery plan, and a commercial pathway that can scale beyond the grant. Expect competition: Innovate UK notes an indicative ~15% success rate based on previous rounds.  

Scope

To be in scope, projects must address both:

• Energy access: affordable, clean energy services for low-income households, enterprises, and social institutions in eligible ODA countries.  
• Clean energy: affordable, reliable and low carbon.  
  

Over 50% of the project must focus on clean energy access and energy innovation (based on costs and work packages).  

Key themes and topics

Priority areas include (but are not limited to): next generation solar, sustainable cooling, modern cooking services, energy efficiency, industrial decarbonisation, clean transport, smart energy systems, energy storage, clean hydrogen, critical minerals, inclusive energy, and zero emissions generators.  

Project duration

• Duration: 6 to 36 months  
• Must start from: 1 August 2026  
• Must end by: 31 March 2030  
  

Funding rates

• For experimental development projects (nearer to market), businesses can claim:
  • up to 45% (micro/small)
  • up to 35% (medium)
  • up to 25% (large)  
• Research organisations doing non-economic activity can share up to 30% of total eligible project costs (across all research orgs), with funding up to 100% (e.g., RTO/charity/not-for-profit/NGO/research org) or 80% FEC for Je-S registered institutions.  
  

Eligibility criteria

Your project must:

• Have total costs between £50,000 and £5 million, and run 6–36 months.  
• Deliver clean energy access impact in eligible ODA regions (sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Indo-Pacific, Latin America).  
• Include:
  • a UK-registered administrative lead (UK registered business, claiming grant)  
  • at least one SME (anywhere in the world) claiming grant  
  • at least one partner with a legal entity in the focus regions (can include in-country offices)  
  • testing or demonstration work in an eligible ODA country  
  • at least two legally separate organisations in the consortium  
• Be ODA-compliant and clearly set out economic and social benefit, including how your project will address GEDSI.