ZUoS Ltd provides technology and consultancy solutions for Smart Local Energy Systems. Our focus is local, while our vision is global. We are working with committed early adopters in the transition to net zero, including public and 3rd sector organisations, social housing providers and community energy groups.

Our Mission

ZUoS provides the tools and expertise to plan and operate the carbon free energy system, to allow more renewable generation and low carbon technologies to be installed within each community.

Aerial view of a building with several arrays of solar panels.

Our Vision

ZUoS supports a socially just energy transition by providing the technology for local control and local ownership of the future energy system we need to reach net zero.

Phoograph of solar panels being installed.

Our values

Local

We believe in the power of collective action, and aim to empower people with the tools to manage their energy demand flexibly - cutting their own costs, while supporting the wider energy system to transition to net zero. We coordinate action at the local level, to capture benefits locally.
Inclusive

Local renewable energy and low-carbon technologies should deliver both individual and social benefits, and cutting your own costs shouldn’t make them more expensive for others. Our systems are designed to be inclusive, affordable and automated, to make them as accessible as possible. Our first of its kind ZUoS Communities provides a turnkey solution to allow Housing Associations, Local Authorities and Community Energy Groups to implement a local energy system without requiring technical expertise, either for themselves or for their tenants and members as the end-users.
Secure

We recognise the sensitive nature of the data and controls which ZUoS uses, and our agreements recognise and respect your data rights. The ZUoS platforms are cloud-operated control systems, and preventive controls are installed at all system nodes, with preventive and corrective controls across the communications layers. Cybersecurity is embedded in our ongoing development processes to ensure system integrity at all levels.
Fair

ZUoS has been developed to unlock the potential of flexibility at the local scale - not (just) for individual benefit, but to deliver social benefits, through increasing capacity for local renewable energy and low carbon technologies, lowering operating costs across the network, and enabling smart local energy systems where more value can be generated and captured locally.

Meet the team

Alex Schlicke

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Alex is a local energy systems innovator, with a strong background in renewable energy developments, having secured consent for over 100 MW of generating capacity across a range of technologies and energy vectors. Alex is an experienced manager in delivering consultancy services in energy systems to the public, private and third sector; and in developing R&D innovations across complex multi-stakeholder projects, increasingly with elements of smart ICT to manage demand and system optimisation. He has been leading the collaborative development of the ZUoS concept since its inception in 2018, and took on the role of CEO from his previous position as Co-Director of Scene Connect.
Andrew Lyle

NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Andrew is a professional engineer who has been active in the UK renewable energy sector for over 15 years. Andrew has worked with a wide range of clients within the agricultural, public, private and community sectors to develop renewable energy projects and has significant experience in all aspects of the development of renewable heat and power projects. He has operated at senior management level and has been responsible for the growth and management of a number of leading renewable energy consultancy, contracting and development companies. He is CEO of the Locogen Group and Vice Chair of Scottish Renewables, and provides a Non-Executive Director role to ZUoS.
David Shields

CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
David holds a degree in Product Design and Innovation from the University of Strathclyde and has 15 years commercial experience in engineering, product development and project delivery roles. He has a wide range of industry experience and is adept at managing multi-disciplinary teams in the design and development of commercial products. He brings this experience to ZUoS as CPO, from his previous role as Operations Director and Innovation Lead at Locogen.
Rosie McGlynn

STRATEGY ADVISOR
Rosie has extensive experience in the energy industry as the former head of Energy UK and more recently through Mentone Energy, an industry engagement and policy advocacy consultancy. Rosie has 22 years of energy utility experience and has a deep understanding of UK and European energy regulatory frameworks and an extensive stakeholder network of senior regulators, policy makers and consumer representatives. In her role as Strategy Advisor, she gives the company unique access to the latest policy, regulatory and corporate strategy decision making.
Jim O'Donnell

CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER
Jim holds a PhD in Voltage Management of Networks with Distributed Generation from Edinburgh University. He has experience in technical architecture design and software development and has been leading the technical development of ZUoS throughout the concept development, as CTO. He also has extensive experience of commercial services, coming from his previous role as Head of Commercial Operations at Flexitricity.
Prem Schlicke

OFFICE MANAGER
Prem brings administrative, accounting and management skills developed through a career in service industries. She has a meticulous attention to detail and ability to work under pressure, previously deployed ensuring the safety, security and smooth running of fleet operations for aircraft within the Lufthansa group. These skills are now deployed in managing the smooth running of all administrative aspects of ZUoS, including financial administration, business, HR, and requirements across team members and company contacts.
Jeremy Rawlings

TECHNICAL LEAD
Jeremy is an electronic engineer with a passion to use his knowledge and networks to benefit those most in need. He joined Scene from National Grid ESO where he learned about the challenges of system operation in a low-carbon network. He contributed to the Network Options Assessment, which identifies the least costly set of network reinforcements to reduce network constraints and support the transition to net zero.
He also evaluated tenders for system balancing services, needed to maintain network stability. Prior to ESO, he successfully completed an engineering doctorate that modelled energy use in groups of office buildings and assessed the potential for shifting cooling or heating at peak times. Jeremy has also delivered energy consulting work for public, private, and NGO clients, including improving the operation of biogas plants with an NGO in India.here
Sheena Fernandez

SIMULATIONS ENGINEER
Sheena joined Scene as a ZUoS Simulations Engineer in April 2023. At Scene, she contributes to the ZUoS simulations workstream, including software development and technical support for the team. Sheena bridges building energy engineering and software development, contributing to the creation of new energy analysis and management solutions and products.Her passion revolves around applying smart technologies for the net zero transition, and she specialises in using data analysis and machine learning to further decarbonize the built environment.

Sheena holds a BSc in Electronics and Communications Engineering, and an MSc in Smart Cities and Communities. Prior to pursuing her Master's degree, she worked as a telecommunications consultant and software developer at an engineering consulting firm in Tokyo. She is also currently pursuing her PhD in the built environment at Heriot-Watt University alongside her work at Scene.
Howard Cox

LEAD SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Howard has over ten years of experience as a Software Engineer, and team leader, with skills encompassing design, requirements analysis, testing, and operations. In his previous role, he helped scale a platform from the ground up, using agile methodologies. Customer experience is key, and co-development is needed to deliver systems that meet user needs and maximise customer satisfaction and retention.
Dolf Andringa

SENIOR DEVELOPER
Dolf joined Scene in June 2023, bringing over 15 years of experience as a software and IoT engineer working for startups in Europe, the United States and Asia. For the last decade he has helped multiple tech startups in the energy sector take their ideas from a blank page to successful deployment with customers and along the way he has co-authored two patent applications.
Dolf has an MSc in Ecology with a minor in Geographical Information Science from Wageningen University in the The Netherlands, and previously worked in nature conservation in various countries around the world. He is passionate about now bringing his software engineering experience to people and organisations that have a real impact in sustainability and social justice.