New InnovateUK Competition aims to bring Local Smart Grids to Southwest Wales

CWM Environmental has launched a new Innovation Exchange (iX) challenge as part of the Innovate UK-backed Net Zero Industry Launchpad pilot.

This pilot was recently responsible for delivering over £14million of public and private sector funding to small innovators across the region, and the new challenge fund hopes to capitalise on this success.

Focussing on a Smart Local Energy System (SLES) or microgrid feasibility study for the Nantycaws Circular Economy Park, the challenge is seeking innovators to deliver a short feasibility study. It should address local grid import and export constraints by maximising local energy use through on-site generation, storage and intelligent energy management.

With applications set to close at the end of May, the winning solution provider will have access to InnovateUK grant funding of up to £25,000 to deliver a three-month project through the iX programme.

The aim of this competition is to support outstanding innovation projects that will have a positive impact or benefit on South West Wales.

The pilot aims to foster collaborative partnerships between a challenge holder and solution provider – accelerating decarbonisation innovations within different industries and sectors in the region, as part of the Net Zero Industry Launchpad scheme.

The study will also consider opportunities to supply energy to nearby organisations or the local community, alongside enabling infrastructure such as EV charging, including provision for Public Service Board (PSB) users.

This opportunity comes hot on the heels of a recent success for south west Wales, which saw a consortium led by Neath Port Talbot Council and supported by Net Zero Industry Wales (NZIW) secure a share of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund (LIPF). The fund totals £500million to be spread across 17 projects throughout the UK.

In 2025, CWM Environmental diverted more than 25,000 tonnes of general waste from landfill, processed over 25,000 tonnes of green waste into organic compost, and generated 480,000 kWh of renewable energy through its on-site wind turbine.

Plus, it also developed over 20 acres of biodiversity and wildflower zones at its Nantycaws site to support pollinators and enhance local ecology.

Sean Gallagher at CWM Environmental said:

“We see this as a strong, delivery-focused step that complements the wider CWM Gwyrdd programme. It supports industrial resilience, energy security and scalable net zero innovation in South West Wales – which is critical to the region and nation becoming a leader in energy innovation and circular economy practices.”

The competition opened on 26 March 2026 and will close on 6 May 2026.

ENDS

CWM Environmental is a Teckal organisation wholly owned by Carmarthenshire County Council, delivering local authority service requirements alongside commercial operations through CWM Skips, Merlin’s Magic Compost, Canolfan Eto Reuse Village, and wider recycling and waste infrastructure.

For more information contact: Maisie Wallace or Carys Williams at Equinox — Net Zero Industry Wales’ PR agency: NZIW@equinox.wales