‘Now is not the time to hesitate’ - Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, co-Chair of Innovation Zero World, tells innovators, funders, policymakers, and business leaders at UK’s largest Net Zero Congress

Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas, co-Chair of Innovation Zero and CEO of the Green Finance Institute on the Main Stage at Innovation Zero World 2025

London, Wednesday 30th April. Innovation Zero World 2025, the UK’s largest net zero congress, concluded its first day of impactful talks yesterday. Panels, exhibitions, networking opportunities and award ceremonies showcased a vibrant range of innovation across the net zero community.

Bringing together the most distinguished group of attendees the show has ever welcomed, including thousands of the UK’s most influential energy policy and business decision makers leading the net zero transition, leaders gathered to discuss how to galvanise collective action and collaboration between sectors and stakeholders.

Rising to the challenge

The third iteration of the Congress took place during one of the most consequential years for climate change in recent memory, as speakers rose up to the challenge of facing down growing climate apathy, denialism, and politicisation.

Innovation Zero World was a ‘celebration of possibility, vision, disruption, and innovation’(Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE), as speakers and exhibitors made clear that now is not the time to hesitate, but to put the spotlight squarely upon the massive economic opportunities unlocked through the transition towards a green economy for whole countries and businesses, but also households.

In her opening address, Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE, co-Chair of Innovation Zero World and CEO of the Green Finance Institute, described the event as “a two-day celebration of possibility” and highlighted the importance of mobilising the power of finance to “challenge all our critics and channel greater investment in nature-based markets.”

Speakers also touched upon the leading role the UK is set to play. While in conversation with Rhian-Mari Thomas, Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), noted that “the UK has something the rest of the world needs. We have innovation, leadership and we are making progress.”

Investing in an electric future

Investment was recognised as a key pillar for unlocking innovation and cross-sector collaboration.  John Flint, Chief Executive Officer at the National Wealth Fund, encouraged businesses and individuals to be bold in their investment and help nurture a “much more supportive environment for risk taking.”

In terms of the solutions investment should focus on, many of the speakers touched on the central role electrification will play in moving towards a low carbon economy. In her presentation of the Seventh Carbon Budget, Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, argued that we are currently “in the age of electricity, and the UK is at the vanguard of what an electrified economy looks like.”

Accelerating electrification was also seen as they key to generating public support for the transition, another defining theme of the Congress mentioned consistently throughout the talks. For Pinchbeck, the key priority for the energy sector should be to “make electricity cheaper for people. It’s our primary recommendation to government. We have to make the fuel of the future cheap so they can live more comfortable and prosperous lives.”

Senior policymakers and decision makers speaking at the event agreed that coupling electrification and decarbonisation is central to the transition towards net zero. In a roundtable discussion, Chris Stark, Head of UK’s Mission for Clean Power, highlighted how the UK Government is taking bold steps to meet clean power goals by radically reforming the grid connections queue.

Modernising the digital transition

Innovative approaches to the climate challenge were discussed in all shapes and forms, with widespread agreement that digitalisation and AI will play a key role in transforming the energy system.

Sims Witherspoon, Climate Action Lead at Google DeepMind, argued that “we need to help people to get ready to use AI to tackle climate change” and called on the Innovation Zero World audience “to get themselves ready to work with AI. Get your data in order and be AI-ready.”

Combining many of the key themes of the day, Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus, told a packed main stage that:

“We have only just scratched the surface of what we can do with technology and energy. We need to be more ambitious and work in partnership with other companies in our space. Electrification is key. We need a global mission in electrification, and we need to drive innovation by investing more in R&D. Just a fraction more investment in this area would make a difference. Invest in innovation and put customers first!”

Celebrating innovation

Overall, the first day of Innovation Zero World assembled a broad range of trailblazers optimistic about the opportunities collaboration and ambition can unlock. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, was clear: “There must be no turning away from net zero.”

Despite the magnitude of the climate crisis, there was no doubt yesterday at Olympia that, by working together, the business and policy communities will be able to find the solutions needed for ‘the creation of a better, cleaner, and healthier future’(Dr Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE).

In celebration of the groundbreaking innovation going on to achieve today’s objectives, the day ended with a prestigious award ceremony commending the work of businesses breaking down barriers in terms of what is possible for sustainable innovation. The winners were as follows:

Winners of the Innovation Zero Awards:

• Cemvision AB, a company based in Sweden, won the Industry Award for Mature Solutions, for its Cemvision Re-ment Massive solution – a platform using three ultra-low carbon cements to avoid calcination, which is the main source of CO2 emissions in traditional cement.
• PulpaTronics, a UK based company, won the Monitoring, Reporting & Verification Award for Promising Solutions, for their sustainable radio frequency identification tags. The business developed sustainable radio-frequency identification tags which eliminate metal mining, simplify manufacturing and minimise environmental impact.
• Converge, a UK based company, won the Monitoring, Reporting & Verification award for Mature Solutions for its Concrete DNA solution, a platform using cutting-edge AI and smart sensors to improve construction efficiency and decarbonise concrete.
• ZeroAvia, a UK based company, won the Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain award for Promising Solutions, for its 600 kW hydrogen-electric powertrain solution for commercial aviation. This solution can power a 10-20 seat aircraft, using hydrogen fuel to create electricity via fuel cells. The electricity then powers electric motors that drive the propellor(s), with only low temperature water and heat produced as byproducts.
• The Mobility House, a company based in Germany, won the Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain award for Mature Solutions, for their Zero Zero solution: this is the world’s first AC vehicle-to-grid offer, enabling cars to be charged for free with zero emission energy.
• FermTech, a UK based company, won the Land & Water award for Promising Solutions, for its Koji Flour solution – a fermented food ingredient made from side-streams in the brewing industry, giving it an ultra low carbon footprint.
• Medusoil SA won the Land & Water award for Mature Solutions, for its Medusoil Biominerals solution. The company specialises in biocementation solutions for soil stabilisation.
• Adia Thermal Ltd, a UK based company, won the Built Environment award for Promising Solutions for its Adia Thermal heat pump solution, making heat pumps cheaper than gas boilers and using machine-learning to achieve faster installations.
• Cambridge Electric Cement won the Built Environment award for Mature Solutions for its recycling cement product, which takes cement recovered from demolition waste and uses it as a flux for the steelmaking in electric arc furnaces, by-passing the factors that make conventional cement production a major contributor to CO2 emissions.
• Futraheat Limited, a UK based company, won the Energy & Power award for Promising Solutions, for its Greensteam High Temperature Heat Pumps and TurboClaw Turbocompressor solution. Their technology delivers consistent, high-quality process heat with minimal maintenance needs.
• Tozero GmbH, a German-based company, won the Energy & Power award for Mature Solutions for its Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling solution.
• Both FermTech and Futraheat Limited won the Industry award for Promising Solutions, again for its Koji Flour and Greensteam High Temperature Heat Pumps and TurboClaw Turbocompressor solutions.

Professor Paul Monks CB, Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero commented: “While government can do a lot to support the sector, it is the innovators being celebrated this evening who are making a difference and unlocking the vast potential of the transition.”

ENDS

Notes to editors 

Quotes from award-winners are available on request.

Event photography

To download event photography, please click here. Please credit ‘Innovation Zero’.

Media registration 

The event will provide a press room and host a schedule of exclusive press briefings from senior figures, and media interviews, across the two days. 

Register for the event at https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/1omeav0zuex51. For interview bookings or to receive a schedule of press briefings during the event, please get in touch via InnovationZero@instinctif.com. 

Visitor registration 

Visitor registration is officially open for Innovation Zero World Congress 2025, taking place on 29th & 30th April at Olympia, London. 

Click here to register to attend. 

Exhibiting and sponsoring 

If you’re interested in participating at Innovation Zero and driving progress toward global emissions reduction please contact: davids@innovationzero.com for more details. 

About Innovation Zero

Innovation Zero World Congress exists to accelerate a just global transition to a low carbon economy. It does this by connecting business leaders, funders, policymakers, and innovators from across sectors, silos, and from all four corners of the globe. 

The event provides a critical space and opportunity for collaboration, breaking down silos, and overcoming obstacles to drive large-scale, impactful progress toward global emissions reduction. It is an independent platform – not aligned with any political party or technology. 

In 2025, the flagship World Congress will return to the Olympia for its third edition. In addition, it will also be launching the Innovation Zero MENA Congress in Riyadh.