Blackpool Business Wins £40,000 Climate Change Innovation Prize

2010-02-03 14:24:18

A Blackpool based business with an innovative idea for tackling climate change last night won an award of £40,000 from Shell Springboard, a programme designed to promote the growth of the low carbon economy in the UK.

Global Energy Systems & Technology received the financial boost for its range of heat pumps which could ultimately signal the end of burning fossil fuels to heat our homes.

The Global Air Source Heat Pump Range, developed by David Smalley and his team, includes the Global Air Heat Pump, the most efficient unit tested by government, and the Eco-Air Boiler which uses air from the earth as its main source of energy for hot water and central heating. The boiler offers consumers 500% efficiency which means that for every kilowatt of electricity they purchase, the Eco-Air Boiler will generate five.

Ben Morris, Global Energy Systems & Technology with trophy

The Shell Springboard programme, which has awarded over £1.3 million to 35 UK small businesses since it launched in 2005, this year celebrates its fifth anniversary.  The programme encourages a positive business response to the challenge of climate change by providing a no-strings financial boost to ideas for innovative products and services that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

David Smalley of Global Energy Systems & Technology, said: “We really believe our product can make a difference in the fight against climate change and it’s incredibly rewarding that such a well established programme as Shell Springboard has also recognised its potential. The funding and recognition we received tonight will allow us to press ahead with our ambitions for the Global Air Source Heat Pump and which will provide low cost heating and reduce carbon emissions.”

More and more green entrepreneurs are looking for a financial boost to take their business ideas to the next level, with research conducted by Vivid Economics for Shell Springboard indicating that the low carbon energy market could be worth £2,000 billion by 2030.

Nimai Swaroop, Marketing Manager of Lubricants UK and Nordics, Shell, said: “Over the last five years, Shell Springboard has given £1.3 million to thirty small businesses like Global Energy Ssytems and Technology with innovative ideas for tackling climate change. It’s fantastic to see UK’s entrepreneurs continue to respond to the challenge of climate change, regardless of the economic climate and we wish David Smalley and his team every success in moving forwards.”

Global Energy Systems & Technology competed against eight other businesses from across the UK on 2nd February 2010 in Manchester.  Aeristech Ltd from Birmingham and HiMag Solutions Ltd from Stroud also received awards of £40,000.