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Australia's leading clean energy and climate tech startup accelerator, EnergyLab, has unveiled the ten startups selected for its 2026 Climate Solutions Accelerator - and for the first time in the program's history, every one of them builds, owns or operates something physical.

Electrolysers, kerbside EV chargers, magnetic grid sensors, DC microgrids, battery precursor materials, rooftop solar systems, indoor plant factories and plastic-free leather. There isn't a pure software business among them. That wasn't a rule we set; it's where the applications took us, and we think it says something about where Australian climate tech is heading. The transition doesn't happen only in code - someone has to build, install and operate the physical infrastructure that moves electrons, recovers critical minerals, replaces carbon-intensive materials and cuts industrial emissions at the source. This cohort is made up of the companies doing exactly that.



The Climate Solutions Accelerator is EnergyLab's flagship program, supporting seed to Series A companies to commercialise and deploy their climate solutions. Now in its thirteenth cohort since launching in 2017, the six-month program is our most competitive to date, with this year's ten selected by EnergyLab's investor committee from applications across Australia and around the world. Each company receives an investment from EnergyLab through our fund manager Impact Ventures, plus access to our angel network of more than 250 climate-focused investors and a mentor network of over 450 experts.

In 2025, EnergyLab alumni raised $348 million in equity investment - more than 50% of all climate tech funding in Australia that year, according to the Cut Through Ventures 2025 State of Australian Startup Funding Report. Alumni include Infravision, whose drone-enabled line-stringing systems are being deployed by network operators worldwide and raised a US$91 million Series B led by Singapore's GIC; National Renewable Network, which closed one of the largest climate tech Series A deals in Australian history at $67.2 million; and Amber Electric, which followed a strong 2025 with $13.6 million in federal funding to scale its vehicle-to-grid platform to 1,000 EVs.

Backed to build

Getting physical technology to market takes longer and costs more than building software, and public support plays an important role in helping founders bridge the gap between a working prototype and a first commercial deployment. EnergyLab is proud to deliver the Climate Solutions Accelerator with the support of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and several of our alumni have gone on to deliver ARENA-funded projects at scale. Two companies in this year's cohort - EVX Australia and OzAmmonia - are already ARENA grant recipients.

"Australia’s energy transition relies on innovative technologies moving beyond the lab and into the real world. Programs like EnergyLab’s play an important role in helping emerging companies develop the skills, networks and investment readiness needed to scale their solutions. We’re encouraged to see this cohort focused on the infrastructure and technologies needed to support a reliable, affordable and renewable energy future, and we’re pleased to support EnergyLab in accelerating their path to deployment."

– Darren Miller, CEO, ARENA



"Decarbonisation is a massive physical and digital undertaking. Software is essential for coordinating and optimising our energy networks, and that digital intelligence relies on advanced hardware, deep engineering, and tangible assets on the ground. Unveiling our first all-hardware cohort is a proud milestone for EnergyLab. By backing founders who manufacture and deploy physical technologies locally, we aren't just decarbonising our grid - we're creating sovereign capability, retaining high-value expertise, and building Australia’s future economy."

– Megan Fisher, Director and CEO, EnergyLab

This year's cohort also reflects EnergyLab's role as a growth engine for the best climate hardware wherever it's built. Two of the ten are university spinouts, commercialising research out of UNSW and Stanford, and two are international companies - from the United States and New Zealand - using the program to enter and scale in the Australian market. Together the ten span the full physical supply chain of the energy transition: from the materials that go into batteries, to the grid-edge hardware managing energy inside buildings, to the charging infrastructure on the street, to industrial emissions cut where they are created.

Meet the 2026 cohort

AGRA Farming Technologies builds and licenses indoor plant factories that can grow crops cheaper, more reliably and at higher quality than the field, while using the same facilities to provide flexible load and demand response services to the electricity grid.

"We are excited to have been accepted into EnergyLab's Accelerator program and look forward to leveraging the available partners and expertise to scale to our commercial facility in 2027."
– Alex Montanari, Founder, AGRA Farming Technologies

Alt. Leather is developing a next-generation, plastic-free and animal-free leather alternative made from renewable feedstocks and agricultural waste. With 68% lower emissions than animal leather and zero petroleum-based plastics, Alt. Leather helps fashion, automotive and upholstery brands reduce environmental impact without compromising on performance or aesthetics.

"We're thrilled to join the EnergyLab Accelerator and become part of a community focused on scaling climate technologies with global impact. As we accelerate commercial partnerships across fashion and automotive, EnergyLab's network, expertise and investor ecosystem will help us bring our plastic-free materials platform to market faster and at greater scale."
– Tina Funder, Founder, Alt. Leather

Aspiring Materials has developed a patented, closed-loop process that converts abundant olivine into critical battery materials, low-carbon cement additives, magnesium hydroxide, and hydrogen, creating multiple revenue streams with zero waste.

"We're excited to join EnergyLab's Accelerator program. Aspiring Materials has a new pathway to produce critical minerals and low-carbon industrial materials with zero waste, and as we expand into international markets, EnergyLab's network and expertise will be instrumental in helping us accelerate commercialisation and maximise our global impact."
– Mark Chadderton, CEO, Aspiring Materials

CATCH Power makes home energy management hardware and software that coordinates household solar, batteries, EV charging and hot water in real time, with over 44,000 devices shipped across Australia. Through its Solar Analytics platform, CATCH Power is building the data and device layer needed to aggregate distributed energy assets into virtual power plants at scale.

"CATCH Power are excited to be part of EnergyLab's Accelerator program. We look forward to working with the EnergyLab cohort and mentors to supercharge our strategy and growth as we position ourselves to capture the Consumer Energy Resources (CER) and Home Energy Management System (HEMS) market inflexion."
– Stefan Jarnason, General Manager, CATCH Power

DC3 Tech designs, integrates and commissions direct current microgrid systems for EV charging sites and data centres. DC3's technology can be applied anywhere where large DC-native loads meet constrained grid supplies, to remove conversion losses and reduce the strain on the grid.

"It's a privilege to have been accepted into the program and we are looking forward to learning from the mentors and portfolio companies in EnergyLab's vast network. As a participant in the inaugural EnergyLab WICEF program years ago, it feels like we've come full circle!"
– Tian Hui Ting, CEO, DC3 Tech



EVX is Australia's only locally owned, completely vertically integrated public EV charging infrastructure provider. Focusing on integration with existing street furniture, EVX designs, manufactures, deploys, owns, and operates Australia's fastest-growing kerbside charging network.

"We are thrilled to have been accepted into EnergyLab's Accelerator program. Our early success has been contingent on significant industry, supporter and government collaboration. The program is an exciting opportunity to create deeper connections with our peers and colleagues, to learn from each other and to access the immeasurably valuable resources that the program brings."
– Andrew Forster, CEO, EVX

Loop Hydrometallurgy's patented Halion Loop™ technology offers a revolution in critical minerals processing: cheaper, cleaner, significantly more versatile, and with considerable reductions in mine-to-metal carbon footprint.

"We are delighted to be accepted into EnergyLab's Accelerator programme. As our business races towards a cleaner metals future, we are keen to make full use of every opportunity for support and the broad networks of the programme's participants and contributors."
– Dave Sammut, CEO & Founder, Loop Hydrometallurgy

Magnefy uses non-invasive magnetic sensing and AI technology that detects developing faults in power transformers and inverters months before failure, helping utilities, renewable energy companies, and data centers improve reliability, reduce downtime, and extend asset life.

"As a U.S.-based startup, we're excited to join the EnergyLab Accelerator to better understand the Australian energy market and build meaningful relationships with utilities, industry partners, and investors. We look forward to learning from the EnergyLab community and exploring opportunities to bring our technology to Australia to help safeguard the reliability and resilience of its power infrastructure."
– Joseph Kao, Co-founder & CEO, Magnefy

MetroElectro installs, owns and operates rooftop solar and battery systems on commercial and industrial buildings under long-term subscription agreements, removing the need for any upfront capital from the landlord or tenant.

"I have long held a high regard for the people and companies who have gone through the EnergyLab program so it is very humbling to now be invited to join the 2026 cohort. I look forward to making personal connections, learning and continuing the important work of bridging the missing middle of commercial and industrial solar and battery deployment."
– Lloyd Heinrich, CEO, MetroElectro

OzAmmonia has developed a platform electrolyser technology that converts industrial nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions — a major industrial pollutant — directly into ammonia as a useful by-product, at roughly half the cost of current abatement technologies.

"OzAmmonia is very excited to be accepted into this year's Energy Labs Accelerator cohort. The team is looking to make the most of the program's extensive mentorship and connections to progress our electrolyser technology towards commercialisation."
– Josh Leverett, CEO, OzAmmonia

What's next

In August, the cohort will begin a six-month program built around international expansion, capital raising, and sales and partnerships, supported by EnergyLab's network of more than 450 mentors and over 250 angel investors.

Connect with the cohort

Investors, corporate partners and industry keen to connect with the 2026 cohort can reach us at [email protected].

Founders interested in the 2027 Climate Solutions Accelerator can register your interest here.

Investors looking to back climate tech through our Accelerator Fund can learn more and express interest here.


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