UK Space Agency awards funding to ten new climate-focussed projects

Ten new climate-focussed projects are about to get under way on the back of £530,000 in funding having been awarded in the second tranche of investment by the UK Space Agency. Earlier this year, £85,000 was shared between between nine UK organisations.

The ten new projects will will receive up to £55,000 and will use Earth observation tools, satellite tracking and data on population demographics, supported by AI, ‘to produce forecasts and models that can be used by sectors ranging from agriculture and energy, to finance and insurance.’

Beginning development in September, the expectation is that collectively, these projects will advance our ability to address issues such as methane and nitrous oxide emissions, watercourse resilience, biodiversity changes and the infrastructure of decarbonising technologies. 

One of the successful applications was by EOLAS Insight who plan to develop a mapping and reporting service focused on watercourse resilience, helping businesses understand the benefits of investing in mitigation strategies, such as riverside woodland schemes.

Brighton-based Recycle2Trade will monitor environmental sites, Aberdeen-based TrackGenesis will combine Earth observation and Global Navigation Systems to support food production in a changing climate and Edinburgh-based Trade In Space’s project will look at deforestation connected to smallholder farming. 

Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman MP, said: ‘The great challenges of our time need bold solutions and from tackling water pollution to carbon emissions and biodiversity threats, the unique perspective that space provides can play a major role in securing the health of our planet and people.

‘By backing UK innovators to make the most of modern technology including satellite data, AI, and Earth observation, we are also supporting businesses up and down our country to grow our economy while driving forward our ambition to make the UK a major player in space.’

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: ‘The UK has a long history of expertise and innovation in Earth observation, developing satellites to collect increasingly detailed data and using that information to build services that help protect our planet.

‘This targeted funding for early-stage innovations is all about supporting fresh ideas and accelerating the rollout of powerful new tools that have the potential to bring benefits to a wide range of users both within and beyond the space sector.’