British Gas leads £7m investment in telecoms and data centre efficiency company 4energy

Portfolio company 4energy, the innovative energy efficiency provider to global telecoms and data centre businesses, has raised new investment from British Gas and existing investors Environmental Technologies Fund, Carbon Trust and Catapult Venture Managers.

British Gas has led a growth funding round in innovative telecoms and data centre cooling provider 4energy. Current investors Environmental Technologies Fund, Carbon Trust, and Catapult also participated in the financing, which totalled £7m. British Gas and the other investors now each hold a minority stake in the company. The investment will enable 4energy to accelerate its global roll-out of energy saving solutions to energy intensive data-centres and telecommunications infrastructure.  British Gas will play a part in this expansion, helping its data rich customers to better manage their energy by using 4energy’s solutions. 4energy will use the proceeds to increase its activities with its blue chip UK customer base and build on its operations throughout Europe, China, India, Africa and North America.

4energy’s products and solutions reduce the cooling requirements for electronic data centre and telecommunications equipment by up to 50%.  Its comprehensive management software and suite of hardware products enable customers to analyse their thermal footprints and adjust air-flows and temperature gradients.  Customers can use real-time data to improve operations across a network of sites, save energy, and make space for new infrastructure by removing excess cooling equipment. 

 ‘British Gas is pleased to support another innovative UK business operating in a key sector for energy efficiency,’ said Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas. ‘Data centre and telecoms energy usage is increasing rapidly, and this investment will enable us to help our customers to manage their energy more efficiently.’

4energy’s CEO and founder Pat Tindale agreed with British Gas, explaining, ‘This is a tremendous opportunity for our team.  We will be able to offer enhanced energy saving solutions to more customers with British Gas’ strong support.  They have an excellent proposition for their UK corporate customers, and we believe we can enhance that immediately.  Outside of the UK, our strong relationship with British Gas will give us increased credibility on the international stage, as we seek to become a global leader.’

Robert Genieser, 4energy Chairman and Partner at the Environmental Technologies Fund, said, ‘4energy has been a great success story, delivering both strong growth and large environmental benefits.  With British Gas on board, working with the strong management team, there is so much more we can do.’