Electronic engineering and computer science experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are partnering with Huddersfield-based company Zenergy Solar.
This project is designed to make large-scale solar energy systems easier to install, monitor and manage – particularly for organisations operating across multiple sites.
The collaboration brings together LBU’s expertise in computing, data systems and applied research with Zenergy Solar’s experience in delivering renewable energy solutions for the commercial, public and third sectors.
Together, they will develop a new digital platform to address the complexity that often prevents businesses from adopting solar energy at scale.
The 28-month project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK, and is led by Dr Akbar Sheikh-Akbari, reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing.
Sheikh-Akbari said: “Zenergy Solar build and supply custom-built solar energy solutions, including solar panels and battery storage.
“They work mainly with commercial and public and third sector clients, including care homes, social housing associations and schools.
“The solar energy market can be complex, with a wide range of suppliers, technologies, and considerations around cost and long‑term maintenance.
“Our KTP with Zenergy Solar aims to support their ambition to make solar energy solutions easier to implement and manage for organisations, such as social housing landlords and care home providers, who have multiple properties and a complex infrastructure of solar energy to manage.”
At the heart of the project is the development of ZenSmart, a new digital platform that will allow businesses and organisations to manage solar energy systems across multiple properties from one place.
Using advanced computing and data modelling, ZenSmart will enable organisations to monitor energy generation in real-time, enabling quicker fault detection and resolution
It will also allow people to manage multiple buildings and sites through a single dashboard and create solutions that optimise different solar panels, battery sizes and manufacturers in one platform.
Julian Wiley, managing director at Zenergy Solar, said: “The solar energy sector faces significant challenges due to the diverse suppliers available, complicated monitoring systems and ineffective fault detection technologies.
“ZenSmart will be an innovative product, bringing LBU’s advanced technical expertise and cutting-edge research to simplify the social energy market and encourage broader adoption and ongoing innovation.
“It will track and operate multiple potential solutions without the added headache of multiple portals and data repositories.
“Using advanced AI, we will be able to enhance fault detection, reduce downtime and improve reliability, while performance modelling will support more complex product installations.”
An experienced graduate will be recruited to manage the project as a KTP Associate. The role – smart energy systems engineer – will be a full-time member of the Zenergy Solar team, with full support from the LBU academics.