WASE demonstrates its world-class clean energy technology to Kerry McCarthy MP

Bristol-based clean technology company WASE demonstrated its innovative wastewater treatment and bioenergy production to Kerry McCarthy MP, when she visited its headquarters on 3 July.   

Founded in 2017, WASE is a clean technology company that converts wastewater and organic waste into renewable energy. During the visit, WASE demonstrated how it had accelerated its growth journey with the support of Elbow Beach, one of the UK’s most active specialist climate investors.

Elbow Beach is a venture capital fund that invests in British climate tech companies that enhance industrial productivity, efficiency and performance at scale. Their investment in WASE in 2022, has provided critical investment capital, as well as leveraging its deep expertise in investing in new climate technologies. The investment enabled WASE to commercialise, test and deliver its first-of-its-kind technology, and scale its leading manufacturing and engineering capabilities.  

WASE’s core technology accelerates the breakdown of waste, producing carbon neutral biogas. This results in treating wastewater up to ten times faster than traditional anaerobic digesters, while delivering a 30% increase in energy yields compared with conventional alternative technologies.

The visit, organised by UK Private Capital, provided Kerry the opportunity to learn more about how WASE has benefitted from Elbow Beach’s investment and strategic expertise.

Research from UK Private Capital, the association for the private capital industry, shows that as of 2025 private equity and venture capital backed businesses headquartered in the South West support 165,000 jobs and contribute £11bn of GDP annually.
 

Commenting on the visit, Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East, said

“Bristol has long led the way in developing innovative ways to address the climate crisis – and WASE is yet another fantastic example of this. The technology is truly impressive, and I hope that with the help of Elbow Beach we’ll continue to see the company grow and thrive in future years.”

Dr Thomas Fudge, CEO & Founder of WASE, said:

“It is a real privilege to be able to lead and grow a company that is delivering real impact. Impact on a local scale as we invest in building our manufacturing and engineering capabilities, on a national scale as we deliver world leading first of a kind technology and now on a global scale as our technology is now being installed in the US and very soon Europe too. This impact is only possible when entrepreneurial investors like Elbow Beach, Extantia, Engie New Ventures and Hitachi Ventures help fund early deep-tech ventures like WASE, helping derisk growth providing time and stability to develop and deploy technology. Having Kerry visit WASE to see how local businesses can successfully scale to deliver a global impact is fantastic recognition of the work we have done and I hope will help seed more Government policies to help businesses like WASE continue to grow now and in the future.”

Michael Moore, UK Private Capital Chief Executive said:

“WASE is a great example of a company that has accelerated its growth journey with the support of private capital. Our industry supports innovative businesses throughout the South West and all across the UK.”

Tom Hardy, CTO of Elbow Beach, said:

“Since our first investment in WASE four years ago, we have seen the company develop to become one of the most exciting waste-to-energy businesses in the UK, with technology that genuinely sets a new standard for the sector. What's impressed us most is the team's ability to translate that innovation into commercial traction -  this isn't just promising R&D, it's a business that's proving it can scale. We are delighted that Kerry was able to see first-hand the impact of this innovation, and we remain firmly committed to supporting WASE as it continues to scale both in the UK and internationally. It's exactly the kind of homegrown innovation we need more of, and we're proud to back it."

Notes to Editors:  

For further information, please contact:  
UK Private Capital Press Office 
Email: [email protected]
 

Background: 

About UK Private Capital

UK Private Capital is the industry body and public policy advocate for the private equity (PE), venture capital (VC) and private credit ecosystem in the UK. With a membership of 600 firms, we represent UK-based private capital firms, as well as their professional advisers and a large base of UK and global investors. The private equity, venture capital and private credit industry has a vital role to play in driving national and regional growth. Currently over 13,000 companies, employing more than 2.5 million people, are backed by private capital investment in the UK.  

About WASE

Founded in 2017, WASE is a Bristol-based clean technology company that converts wastewater and organic waste into renewable energy. Its core technology is an electro-methanogenic process that accelerates the breakdown of waste, producing carbon neutral biogas, treating wastewater up to ten times faster than traditional anaerobic digesters while capturing biogas with a higher methane concentration, typically delivering 30% increase in energy yields versus conventional alternative technologies. The company offers modular, plug-and-play systems across industrial wastewaters and renewable natural gas applications, with live installations including a dairy farm and Hepworth Brewery in West Sussex.
 

About Elbow Beach

Elbow Beach is one of the UK’s most active seed investors in transformative climate technologies. We back pioneers of clean technologies that improve industrial productivity efficiencies, and outcomes. The companies we invest in have potential to create real value for their customers while achieving climate targets.