Energy Systems Catapult in partnership with the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) has been awarded funding for a programme to Enable Inclusive Innovation and Sustainable Choice.

The funding of £242,713 was part of £2.2m in grants awarded under the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, which are payments distributed from energy companies that may have breached rules. Projects must “support energy consumers in vulnerable situations”.

The Enabling Inclusive Innovation and Sustainable Choice programme will work with disabled and older consumers to deliver new research and assets that support the development of innovative, accessible smart and low carbon energy products and services, and to inform consumer and policy decision making. RiDC, which has a pan-disability consumer panel of over 2,500 people will deliver the research through a programme of six insight and test evaluation projects, including co-design workshops, accessibility and usability evaluations and mystery shopping.

This includes adding 50 new households with disabled consumers to Energy Systems Catapult’s Living Lab – a safe and affordable test environment of over 250 homes helping innovators rapidly design, market-test and launch smart energy products, services and business models.

Energy Systems Catapult’s Living Lab business lead, Rebecca Sweeney, said: “We plan to invite 50 new households to join the Living Lab from RiDC’s existing consumer research panel of 2,500 disabled and older people…Read more