Energy giant Shell agreed to give three low carbon technology developers a cash boost at an event in Aberdeen last night.
Shell hosted the second of two regional finals of its Springboard competition at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
The winners were Carbogenics, Endo Enterprises and LightFi, who each secured £40,000 worth of funding.
They will now go onto the national final in London in May, along with the three winners of the other regional event, recently held in Cambridge.
The national champion will be given a further £110,000, taking their total to £150,000.
In addition to money, winners get access to academics and investors whose advice can help grow their businesses.
Since 2005, Shell Springboard has provided £4million of equity-free funding to almost 100 innovative low-carbon enterprises in the UK.
The winners were selected from a pool of eight finalists.
Edinburgh-based Carbogenics has developed carbon-based additive to boost biogas production.
Endo Enterprises, in Cheshire, has produced a liquid which can improve the circulation of water in central heating systems.
LightFi, from London, uses WiFi radio to automate the control of lighting in rooms.
John MacArthur, Shell vice president, group CO2, said the competition had been “tight” and that it was “fantastic” to see so many high quality ideas on show.
Carbogenics co-founder Franziska Srocke said: “Carbogenics has huge potential to boost biogas production and Shell Springboard’s support is essential to the development of our carbon-based anaerobic digestion additive. We are delighted to be going through to the next stage of the competition.”
Endo Enterprises managing director Benjamin Sallon said: “We are very proud that our Endotherm technology has been recognised by the Shell Springboard awards. The awards will make a big difference to our work to reduce energy consumption and share the cost and environmental benefits of doing so.”
LightFi chief executive Alex Bak said: “Winning this award is a brilliant moment for our business and we can’t wait for the next stage of Shell Springboard. Already, today’s funding will make a real difference to our work to roll out automated lighting and data driven insight into the use of space.”