What we’ve achieved so far

Our trials target the intersection of operational efficiency, carbon reduction, regulatory performance and community resilience.

Tech Ascend is focused on delivering impact that extends beyond the life of individual projects. Our flagship programme, the Trial Reservoirs Initiative, does this by changing how technology adoption decisions are made. By linking trials directly to meaningful commitments, the model shortens the path from evidence to implementation.

Environmental impact

Greenhouse gas emissions reduction

Across five completed trials with quantifiable emissions data, solutions have saved around 188 tonnes of CO₂e. These savings are achieved through lower energy use, reduced transport and displacement of carbon-intensive practices, and demonstrate efficiency gains in operational settings.

Examples include:

• A sludge-thickening trial with Yorkshire Water halved transport emissions, avoiding 120 tonnes CO₂e per year at one site alone, while reducing haulage dependency and associated operating costs
• A smart water access trial in The Gambia displaced fossil-fuel-based water purification, saving 52 tonnes CO₂e per year
• Energy-efficient aeration at an industrial site in Ireland reduced electricity demand by 30%, avoiding 13 tonnes CO₂e per year

Energy efficiency

Three trials focused on energy performance have delivered combined electricity savings of approximately 44.7 MWh per year, strengthening resilience to energy price volatility and supply constraints.

Social and water conservation outcomes

Alongside emissions reduction, four adopted solutions have delivered water-related benefits:

• Improved access to safe drinking water in the Gambia, supplying an average of 1,400 litres per day to rural communities previously reliant on carbon-intensive alternatives  
• Significant water savings through improved system design, including a 71% reduction in water use at one site in Botswana, saving more than 1,100 m³ annually
• Enhanced treatment performance in industrial and agricultural settings, enabling water reuse, contaminant removal, and reduced pressure on local water resources in the US and Canada, while supporting compliance and water circularity objectives 

(Note: Some outcomes contribute to more than one impact area, reflecting the interconnected nature of energy, emissions, and water performance within operational systems.)

Financial and system-level impact

To date the Initiative has launched 20 global technology trials, of which 18 have concluded. Thirteen trials have met their success criteria, resulting in a >70% trial-to-adoption rate, compared with an industry norm of around 25%, which typically reflects pilot completion rather than implementation.

Since its launch the Trial Reservoirs Initiative has supported £2.59 million [US$3.45 million] in technology trials using £810,000 [$1.08 million] of catalytic capital, or shared-risk funding. This has unlocked a further £1.77 million [$2.37 million] in external co-funding, demonstrating strong additionality: trials that would not otherwise have proceeded were able to move forward with defined implementation commitments built into the model.

Our model is designed to recycle capital rather than consume it. To date, £470,000 [$627,000] has been repaid and redeployed into new trials, allowing a single pool of funding to support multiple rounds of implementation and adoption. Ongoing trials represent a further £680,000 [$907,000] in supported activity.

Market confidence

The Trial Reservoirs Initiative has attracted strong engagement from technology developers and end-users alike, with a current pipeline of 450 companies seeking to participate.

The Initiative has also received International recognition, including presentation at the World Economic Forum and inclusion in a G20 Finance Ministers’ report on infrastructure innovation.