Newcastle tech startup with “big ambitions” opens its doors to North East customers

A Newcastle tech startup which aims to become a household name has opened its doors to its first customers in the region.

Swarm, a green energy business founded by two experienced North East entrepreneurs, aims to change the way people buy, generate and use energy in their homes. It is now completing its first renewable energy installations for homeowners in the region, before a UK-wide rollout in 2024.

Swarm is headed up by Anthony Piggott and Dan Martin, who sold their Consett based electric vehicle charging business, Elmtronics, to European operator Mer last year.

Dan Martin, CEO and co-founder, commented: “Right now, people are reliant on the big energy companies to power their homes, and lots of us are feeling the impact of increasing energy costs. We founded Swarm to change this and kick off a much-needed energy revolution.

“We believe that, if we’re to transition to renewable energy and address rising costs and uncertainty, then the way people buy and sell energy needs to change.

“We give homeowners the power to control the way they generate renewable energy, use it where and when they need it to further reduce their reliance on the grid, and automatically sell any excess back when it’s worth the most.”

Swarm designs and installs a bespoke ‘solar power plant’ for each home, consisting of solar panels, an inverter and battery storage. In development is a new energy management system which people will be able to use to manage all their home’s energy in one place, regardless of the brands of smart devices they have.

The Swarm Q-Bee will manage how energy flows around the home, diverting energy to where and when it’s needed, storing excess to avoid peak grid pricing and eventually enabling people to sell the power they generate between one another or as a collective back to the grid – all in one place.

Dan added: “We went into this business because we all have to play a part in addressing climate change and the cycle of being trapped with ever-rising energy bills. By giving people control over the energy in their own homes, they can transition to renewable energy, they can live in a more sustainable way, and they can save money as well.”

The business already employs a team of 10 at its base in Hoults Yard and claims to have “big plans” for growth over the next few months.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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