Expression of interest: Innovative solutions for domestic retrofit

Summary Challenge Dates How to apply

Overview

We are looking for suppliers and innovators with solutions that can make home retrofit more affordable, effective and attractive to homeowners across the Liverpool City Region.

Accelerating domestic decarbonisation through innovative technologies, delivery models and homeowner-focused solutions that reduce upfront barriers, improve value for money, and unlock long-term benefits across the Liverpool City Region.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA), supported by the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC), is seeking innovative solutions that can help accelerate domestic retrofit uptake amongst “missing-middle” homeowners.

These homeowners often fall between grant funded support and market rate options. Despite recognising the benefits of retrofit, the upfront investment can be difficult to justify, particularly when the financial return and value of available solutions is unclear. Through this preliminary market engagement exercise, LCRCA is looking to identify innovative products, technologies, services, commercial approaches, delivery models and behaviour-change interventions that can make retrofit more affordable, attractive and achievable.

Challenge

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is seeking innovation‑led retrofit solutions that reduce the upfront barriers to investment, make retrofit more cost‑effective, and strengthen long‑term home value for missing‑middle homeowners who sit between grant‑funded and market‑rate options and often choose not to invest in the upfront cost of deep decarbonisation. We want solutions that deliver better value for money, improve installation and operational efficiency, and increase uptake by demonstrating clear financial, environmental and practical benefits to homeowners.

Solutions may enhance or future‑proof existing or planned retrofit measures, for example by improving the performance of heat pumps, solar PV or battery storage, or strengthen local engagement and homeowner confidence in retrofit. Approaches should show tangible real‑world impact, such as lower CO₂ emissions, reduced energy demand, and healthier, more resilient homes. They may also demonstrate how homeowners can unlock or regenerate value, making retrofit a more compelling investment for missing-middle homeowners.

In summary, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is seeking innovation-led retrofit solutions that reduce the upfront barriers to investment, make retrofit more cost-effective, and strengthen long-term home value for homeowners who sit between grant-funded and market-rate options.

These “missing-middle” homeowners often have limited eligibility for public funding and can face significant barriers to investing in the upfront costs of deep decarbonisation measures.

Solutions we are looking to explore

We are looking to explore solutions that:

Reduce financial and practical barriers to retrofit.

Improve installation efficiency and whole-life performance.

Increase homeowner confidence and participation.

Demonstrate clear financial, environmental and practical benefits.

Strengthen the long-term value and resilience of homes.

Solutions may enhance, optimise or future-proof existing or planned retrofit measures, including but not limited to:

Heat pumps

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems

Battery storage technologies

Home energy management systems

Innovative commercial and delivery models that reduce retrofit costs

Digital tools and platforms supporting retrofit journeys

Community engagement and behaviour change approaches

Asset performance optimisation solutions

Areas of interest

We are particularly interested in solutions that address one or more of the following:

Enhancing Retrofit Performance

Heat pumps

Solar PV

Battery storage

Home energy management systems

Data and monitoring platforms

Improving Affordability and Delivery

Installation efficiency

Demand aggregation

Modular retrofit approaches

Integrated retrofit packages

Innovative commercial and delivery models that reduce retrofit costs

Building Homeowner Confidence

Customer journey improvements

Behaviour change approaches

Community engagement models

Personalised retrofit pathways

Unlocking Long-Term Value

Asset value enhancement

Whole-life performance optimisation

Value generation approaches

Resilience and health improvements

Why participate

Participants will have the opportunity to:

Help shape future challenge specifications and procurement approaches

Access a real-world testing environment in Liverpool City Region

Engage directly with public-sector stakeholders

Dem