What began as a small idea just a year and a half ago came to life last week, as Harwell Campus hosted the inaugural, HEAT Festival with Voyagers.io. Over 500 people from across the globe—including places as far-flung as Alaska, gathered to share ideas, seek solutions to the climate crisis, and work towards a common goal – a sustainable future. It was a day filled with celebration, bringing together funders and founders with the best minds in science, engineering, and creative expression to spark meaningful conversations and collaborations.

With eight decades of radical innovation driving Harwell’s energy tech cluster, Harwell was a logical choice for this ambitious event. From startup pitch battles to unconference sessions and even a film festival, the festival buzzed with activity.  Emma Southwell-Sander, Harwell’s Energy Tech Cluster Manager, shared her top five highlights from the day.

A Rich Array Of New Energy Ideas Are In The Pipeline

The HEAT Festival spotlighted both the cutting-edge technology born at Harwell and fresh ideas from global innovators. One standout was Harwell-based Space Solar, which showcased its transmitter and half-meter helix structure for the first time in the Showcase tent. While the idea of harnessing solar energy in space isn’t new, Space Solar’s fully-rotating 360-degree transmitter brought a innovative fresh twist to the concept with aim of transforming the concept into reality.

Sustainable  Food Is Getting Surprisingly Tasty

The Showcase also featured food innovations that are changing the future of what we eat, including chocolate made without cocoa and a fermentation-based alternative to dairy cheese—both surprisingly delicious. Another highlight was Samudra Oceans, demonstrating how large-scale seaweed carbon capture could become a game-changing solution for climate action.

Thinking Different About Funding

Throughout the day, festival-goers heard from industry leaders on the main stage and participated in engaging, interactive workshops. ARIA (the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency) helped attendees push the boundaries of what is possible, exploring bold science projects at the edge of innovation.

Better Battery Storage Unlocks New Options 

While another notable session came from Cold Electric, a project led by Taiwan-based Phil Chen, the visionary behind HTC. He shared his groundbreaking giant, flame-proof battery pack designed to help communities go off-grid, bringing the future of energy independence one step closer.

Energy Tech needs Creativity 

Harwell and The HEAT are deliberately multidisciplinary, because innovation needs different perspectives to go faster. Hot Poets took to the stage and recapped the day’s discussions with powerful poetry that brought climate change science and action to life. The festival closed in style with a one-night-only performance by The Voyagers Band, whose lively rendition of Glenn Frey’s ‘The Heat is On’ was the perfect way to cap off an unforgettable event.

The HEAT Festival was an experiment, a way to add new momentum and connections to our vibrant ecosystem. It felt like a true testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. I was inspired to see so many diverse ideas and approaches come together, all working towards the larger goal of positive change in a sector critical to our future. The energy, creativity, and passion on display leaves me excited for what comes next.