Mixergy

Mixergy is a UK-based company that manufactures smart and connected hot water tanks designed to reduce energy consumption and costs for households. The company was founded in 2014 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford by Pete Armstrong (CEO), Ren Kang, and Malcolm McCulloch. The founders' concept, developed during their research in the university's Department of Engineering Science, was to create a network of intelligent hot water cylinders that could offer flexibility to the energy grid.

Mixergy's core product is a smart hot water cylinder that uses a novel top-down heating method, allowing users to heat only the amount of water they need, which can be up to five times faster than conventional tanks. This technology significantly reduces heat loss and can lower hot water bills by up to 40%. The tanks are managed via an IoT platform and a mobile app, which uses machine learning to understand household usage patterns and optimize heating schedules, often taking advantage of cheaper, off-peak electricity tariffs. The system is compatible with various energy sources, including gas boilers, solar PV, and heat pumps, positioning it as a future-proof solution for the transition to renewable energy. By connecting a network of these tanks, Mixergy provides Demand Side Response (DSR) services to the National Grid, helping to balance supply and demand by storing excess renewable energy.

The company serves homeowners, social landlords, and new build developers. Its business model includes direct sales and partnerships with utility companies like British Gas and housing developers. Mixergy has received multiple rounds of funding from investors including IP Group, Oxford Science Innovation, Centrica Innovations, Barclays, and EDP. The company has been recognized with several awards, most notably the King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2025 and the Housebuilder Product of the Year in 2021.

Keywords: smart hot water tanks, energy efficiency, demand side response, IoT, cleantech, residential heating, energy storage, grid balancing, machine learning, sustainable homes, renewable energy integration, water heating, home energy management, decarbonisation, Oxford University spin-out, smart grid, heat pumps, solar PV compatible, energy savings, utility partnerships