The world’s appetite for electricity is climbing rapidly, driven by the dual surge of AI data centers and electric vehicles, and the grid is struggling to keep up.
Yottar, a U.K.-based startup, is tackling the problem by mapping electrical grid capacity so businesses can see where power is available for projects such as data centers, EV chargers, and other energy-intensive infrastructure.
“The electrification super cycle is colliding with the AI data center boom,” said co-founder and CEO Peter Clutton-Brock. “That’s making grid operators really struggle to deal with the backlog. Around London, for example, large-scale data center capacity has already been consumed.”
Unlike competitors that try to convince utilities they have more unused power than reported, Yottar focuses on detailed mapping. The platform highlights where capacity exists and how much electricity is available at each location, helping what the company calls “medium-sized demand developers” those needing 1 to 5 megawatts.
Among its clients are Tesla, which uses Yottar to select and upgrade Supercharger locations, and the U.K.’s National Health Service, which relies on the platform for EV charger planning, solar installations, and siting radiology units.
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Yottar recently raised $1 million in a pre-seed round led by Haatch, with backing from Cape Capital and angel investors. The startup is also rolling out a new feature that identifies sites best suited for upgrades or new equipment.
Currently active in the U.K., Yottar has ambitions to expand into the U.S. and other markets. “The problem is absolutely international and needs an international solution,” Clutton-Brock said.
