A Newcastle-based technology startup, Swarm, fueled by the aspirations of becoming a household name, has commenced operations, serving its inaugural customers in the region. Spearheaded by two seasoned North East entrepreneurs, Anthony Piggott and Dan Martin, Swarm is determined to revolutionize the energy landscape by altering how people procure, produce, and employ energy within their households. Following its initial renewable energy installations for local homeowners, Swarm is gearing up for a nationwide launch across the UK in 2024.

The duo behind Swarm, Anthony Piggott and Dan Martin, previously made waves by selling their electric vehicle charging enterprise, Elmtronics, situated in Consett, to European operator Mer last year.

Dan Martin, co-founder and CEO, articulated, “At present, many individuals depend on prominent energy conglomerates to power their residences, while grappling with escalating energy expenses. Swarm was born to disrupt this status quo and instigate a much-needed energy revolution."

He continued, emphasizing the need for transformative change in energy consumption, "We hold the conviction that for us to transition into renewable energy, tackle soaring costs, and mitigate uncertainty, a fundamental shift in energy procurement and utilization is essential."

Martin outlined Swarm's novel approach, stating, “Our solution empowers homeowners to control their renewable energy generation, optimizing its usage to reduce reliance on the grid. Moreover, surplus energy can be automatically sold back to the grid when it's most valuable."

Swarm's core offering involves crafting and implementing a bespoke 'solar power plant' tailored for each dwelling. This setup comprises solar panels, an inverter, and battery storage. In parallel, the company is actively developing an innovative energy management system intended to unify the control of a household's energy consumption, irrespective of the brands of their smart devices.

Dubbed the Swarm Q-Bee, this system efficiently manages energy flow within the home. It dynamically channels energy to where it's needed, storing surplus energy to avoid peak grid pricing. Additionally, it envisions a future where homeowners can share generated power amongst themselves or collectively feed it back to the grid, all streamlined through a single interface.

Dan Martin added, “Our entry into this venture was fueled by the urgency of addressing climate change and the perpetual cycle of escalating energy bills. Empowering individuals to govern their home's energy empowers them to transition into renewable energy, adopt a sustainable lifestyle, and simultaneously achieve financial savings."

With a bustling headquarters at Hoults Yard, the burgeoning business already maintains a workforce of 10 and harbors ambitious expansion plans slated for the upcoming months.