82. Micro Thermal Energy This startup is working to harness geothermal energy using “portable” units to deliver power, independent of access to the grid and weather conditions. Written by Helena Young Sponsored by Sage Published on January 12, 2026 About the Startups 100 Now in its 18th year, the Startups 100 is the definitive list of the most promising new UK businesses. There's no fee for entry or for inclusion in our index. The Startups team of new business experts judge all our top 100 entrants in collaboration with specialist industry consultants. See our guide to this year’s hottest new businesses and most exceptional founders in the complete 2026 Startups 100 index. Founders: Helle Ehrenreich, Simon Bakshi, and Neil WandsYear founded: 2022Website: microthermalenergy.comThe decarbonisation of energy is one of the issues of our age. This is on top of ageing grids, increased demand, and the need to update infrastructure including car charging options.The London-based team behind Micro Thermal Energy is setting out to address this by harnessing geothermal heat to generate reliable and renewable energy. This will be achieved with no CO2 emissions and by supplying baseload power to reduce grid reliance and thereby increasing resilience.The team describes their design as a ‘lightweight’ option. “Ideally, we wanted the equivalent of small, local solar panel installations, just using heat coming from the opposite direction (underground),” they explain.This design uses Thermawynd® Technology. “By adapting the proven mechanics of a wind turbine for a self-contained underground system, we provide a power source that is reliable and revolutionary,” the team explains. Micro Thermal Energy will tap into the low-to-moderate heat found at shallower depths, rather than “high-temperature volcanic geology”.This project was inspired by the “range anxiety” many electric vehicle owners complain about. The founders started working on a solution that delivers clean, continuous baseload power, independent of weather and grid availability. The team is collaborating with industry experts at Cranfield University, a leading turbo-machinery institute. They have also received letters of intent from two large estates, which are looking to install pilot systems on their sites to secure clean energy and reach their emission targets.The target audience is high-intensive businesses, EV/eHGV charging hubs and data centres, as well as remote locations that do not have access to grid infrastructure. By adapting the proven mechanics of a wind turbine for a self-contained underground system, we provide a power source that is reliable and revolutionary. Ehrenreich says that she made the decision to work full time on the project with no income, but has been rewarded with an Innovate UK grant for ‘Women in Innovation’.The next step is to be recognised as a renewable energy company, and to then have the technology commercially proven. And then, by 2030, Micro Thermal Energy will hopefully play a key role in helping the UK in its energy transition and bid to achieve resilience.View the full Startups 100 Index for 20261. Omnea2. HIVED3. MAGIC AI4. OXCCU5. Lightyear6. Neuranics 7. Hormona8. Burbank9. Better Dairy 10. Lenkie Technologies11. Userled12. Hoxton Farms13. Rensair14. PulpaTronics15. TradeKart16. 32Co17. Carmoola18. cheqd19. Sightline Analytics20. Adamo Foods21. Bold Bean Co22. Beams Renovation 23. Pan Galactic24. Capi Money25. Spotted Zebra26. ANTHROTEK 27. Unravel28. Perci Health29. Untap Health30. Hair Syrup31. Connect Earth 32. spacebands 33. Unfabled34. Lightning Reach35. STOCKED36. Embeddable37. XR Therapeutics38. Literal Labs39. Scooch40. Openr41. Fibe Limited42. Inicio AI43. Peachies44. Better Nature 45. Ctrl Alt46. Resting Reef47. Nila48. ROXFIT49. Finmile50. NavLive51. Volunteero52. Inntelo AI53. Zonova54. A&B Smart Materials55. Ethicronics56. Treeapp57. kennek58. Soil Benchmark59. Vox Aeris60. Asan Cup61. Nuuri62. Mindstone63. MYNDUP64. Enbiosis Biotechnology65. JUX Food66. Danu Robotics67. Wylde Market68. Air Aware Labs69. Mimicrete Ltd70. ALYVE71. Happl72. Living Things73. Grub Club Pets74. Mealia75. PetProov76. Lylo Products77. Chest78. ZIM Connections79. Uptime Labs80. Teal81. Zero Fintech82. Micro Thermal Energy 83. Kanjo 84. Merlin Cloud85. My Skin Feels86. Eleria87. Cashblack88. RevvedUp89. Cosysense90. SuperFi91. Loom92. Legacy Compass93. Meshed94. SWURF95. Main Squeeze96. Sampl Technologies97. Over the Moo98. Pioneering People99. Bikebook100. Recondition Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags 2026 Written by: Helena Young Deputy Editor Helena is Deputy Editor at Startups. She oversees all news and supporting content on Startups, and is also the author of the weekly Startups email newsletter, delivering must-know SME updates straight to their inbox. From interviewing Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin to spotting data-led working from home trends, her insight has been featured by major trade publications including the ICAEW, and news outlets like the BBC, ITV News, Daily Express, and HuffPost UK. With a background in PR and marketing, Helena is particularly passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. That's one reason she manages the Startups 100 Index, our annual ranking of new UK businesses. Sponsored by: Sage Startups 100 Index Sponsor 2026 Sage exists to knock down barriers so everyone can thrive, starting with the millions of Small and Mid-Sized Businesses served by us, our partners and accountants. Customers trust our finance, HR and payroll software to make work and money flow. By digitising business processes and relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, banks and governments, our digital network connects SMBs, removing friction and delivering insights. Knocking down barriers also means we use our time, technology and experience to tackle digital inequality, economic inequality and the climate crisis.