ENGIE (formerly GDF SUEZ) has announced Big Solar as the winner of its Big Pitch UK competition to find the UK’s most innovative clean energy and smart technology idea.

The judges were impressed with Big Solar’s Power Roll photovoltaic (PV) technology, which will be cheaper to manufacture in the UK and easier to install than other solar products. It will also be 145 times thinner than traditional silicon PV products.

Judged by a panel of independent experts, ENGIE’s Big Pitch is an initiative to discover the next big idea in energy and services for cities, communities, buildings and people. Submissions to the competition had to relate to one of four themes: energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart technologies or smart cities.

As winner of the competition Big Solar has been awarded £10,000 and will now have the opportunity to compete for investment from ENGIE’s New Ventures Investment Fund, which has €100 million to invest in clean energy businesses. The company will also receive coaching and mentorship from ENGIE to help it to develop further and commercialise the business.

Pictured right is Neil Spann, managing director of Big Solar, with the award