Frontier IP investee lands partnership with Bosch

Frontier IP Group on Monday confirmed that its portfolio company Pulsiv Solar has entered into an agreement with Robert Bosch Limited (Bosch UK) to optimise the design of its energy-efficient solar micro-inverter prototype.

University of Plymouth spin-out Pulsiv, in which Frontier IP holds a 18.9% stake, will be able to market the completed devices as "Engineered by Bosch" and the collaboration will be funded by Pulsiv as part of a £288,732 project backed by a £129,929 grant from Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency.

Solar micro-inverters are plug-in devices that convert direct current electricity generated by photovoltaic cells to alternating current used in electrical grids, with Pulsiv having demonstrated in laboratory conditions that its technology is significantly more energy efficient than existing micro-inverters.

Pulsiv Solar technical director Zaki Ahmed said: "We are very excited to have Bosch's collaboration and support on the industrialisation of our micro-inverter, and potentially other products. This collaboration means I expect Pulsiv will be able to deliver an average improvement of more than 5% in the energy exported to the electrical grid. We have been assured by a global leader in the renewables space that this improvement could be disruptive to the industry."

Applications being explored for the technology include improving the energy efficiency of power converters used in a huge range of consumer devices, such as televisions, mobile phones and laptops.

Meanwhile, the AIM traded company also confirmed that an exclusive range of sustainable tiles made by its portfolio company Alusid, in which its holds a 35.6% stake, will be launched by Parkside Architectural Tiles, the commercial arm of Topps Tiles serving the architecture and design market.

The tiles, which are made from recycled porcelain and glass industrial waste through Alusid's patented process and require less energy than conventional tile manufacturing, will be launched at this year's Clerkenwell Design Week in London, from the 21 to 23 May.

Frontier IP chief executive Neil Crabb said: "Alusid continues to thrive and attract new customers and, of course, we're delighted about the Parkside launch. We believe there is greater demand to be fulfilled, and we are now actively exploring options to transform the company's manufacturing capacity."

Frontier IP Group's shares were up 0.60% at 84.50p at 1228 BST.