Amey targets climate tech startups for greener estates

Amey has gained access to a huge cohort of climate technology startups as it aims to drive more sustainable performance across public estates.

Amey has extended its existing partnership with venture capital firm Sustainable Ventures, giving the contractor access to the firm’s 1,000-plus climate technology innovators. The contractor will test their technologies on the estates it manages.

An Amey spokesperson told CM: “A significant proportion of Sustainable Ventures’ climate-tech ecosystem is relevant to Amey, particularly technologies focused on energy efficiency, low-carbon infrastructure, smart buildings, biodiversity, water, waste and asset performance.”

On its initial pilot projects, Amey is testing voltage optimisation technology from VoltSmart, and retrofit window insulation solutions from Window Insulation. Further opportunities are currently being explored, the spokesperson said.

Amey is “seeing strong interest across a few public sector estates, including defence housing, highways, education and wider public infrastructure, where clients are looking for practical ways to trial and scale innovation”, they added.

Asked if Amey plans to invest in any of the startups it tests, the spokesperson said: “Our current focus is on identifying, testing and scaling technologies that deliver measurable value for clients, with any future commercial arrangements considered on a case-by-case basis.”

Sustainable Ventures was founded 15 years ago, and has since raised £1.2bn of equity. The firm has been involved with startups including Concrete4Change, which developed technology to trap CO2 from cement in concrete.

Craig McGilvray, managing director of Amey’s Complex Facilities business, said: “This partnership is about bridging the gap between innovation and delivery. By working together, we can bring forward new technologies, test them in real-world environments and scale those that deliver meaningful results for our customers. This collaboration reflects a growing recognition that partnerships between corporates and the innovation ecosystem are critical to scaling climate solutions.”