Express & Echo (City & East Devon Edition)
Energy firm’s focus on renewables with science park move
A RENEWABLE energy company which specialises in developing low carbon heat pump technology solutions is the latest organisation to join the Exeter Science Park community.
Abode Heat, which employs nine people, has relocated to the science park as it moves into the next phase of its development as a business.
Ben Hodges, business development director at Abode Heat, said the company had spent five years gaining experience in the deployment of heat pump technology in buildings and was now using technology to develop the design and consultancy strand of its business.
He said: “As a business we are about reducing the barriers for users and installers of this technology to implement it in line with the UK’s net zero decarbonisation strategies. We have evolved from an installation type of business to very much a design and compliance consultancy and through this approach we are developing innovative ways to assist the traditional heating industry specifically around this technology.”
Abode Heat partners with the major UK manufacturers to help them drive heat pump sales to replace fossil fuel boilers in the heating marketplace. It has a longer term objective to develop an AI tool within the business – potentially in partnership with the University of Exeter – which would improve efficiency and reduce the cost of its design and compliance services. It plans to initiate that project once it locates to the science park.
Ben added: “A key part of moving to the science park is to be around similar businesses, and to collaborate with other organisations as we utilise AI in the development of our work. We’ve always liked it here. It is a high quality office space which will provide us with an exciting opportunity in terms of how we evolve and develop as a business.”
Initially based in Cornwall, Abode Heat relocated to Exeter in 2021 to make the business more accessible for future national growth.
Jason Buck, senior business development manager at Exeter Science Park, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome the Abode Heat team to the community here at the science park. They are conducting some important work in the development and distribution of low carbon heat pumps and we’re looking forward to seeing the AI and tech side of their business evolve.”
Exeter Science Park is home to more than 45 businesses and organisations focused on science, technology and innovation, employing around 700 people at its location just off the M5 outside Exeter.