Sam Taylor from Green Power Solutions

In this episode of the Cornwall Innovation Centre podcast, Rebecca Loto speaks with Sam Taylor, co-founder of Green Power Solutions, a company that provides monitoring solutions for off-grid assets. Sam explains that Green Power Solutions helps operations teams gain visibility and make predictions about off-grid assets such as CCTV towers along motorways that are powered by battery or solar. The technology allows operations managers to determine how long an asset will remain operational, monitor battery status, predict solar performance, and plan engineer visits more efficiently. Historically, approximately 75% of engineer visits to these assets are unnecessary, as fleet owners often change batteries on a fixed schedule without knowing if replacement is actually needed. The conversation covers the significant financial and operational benefits of this visibility. Site visits can cost around 200 pounds for half a day, and by reducing unnecessary visits and optimizing engineer routing and priorities, clients achieve substantial savings. Beyond cost savings, the technology helps clients transition away from diesel generators to battery and solar-powered systems, supporting sustainability goals. Sam discusses how Green Power Solutions initially operated as a SaaS software company integrating with existing manufacturer hardware. However, around January 2024, when AI improvements made it easy to replicate software features, their competitive advantage disappeared almost overnight. This prompted a significant pivot into hardware development. The company now develops its own hardware specifically designed to use minimal power - critical for power-sensitive off-grid assets - while controlling the entire data journey and protecting their intellectual property. The pivot from remote-first software company to manufacturer required a physical office space for testing and development work. Sam highlights how the company now uses AI agents to enhance productivity, with a team of just three people operating with the capability of a team of ten or twelve in traditional terms. Clients' needs are also evolving due to AI capabilities, with some now preferring to access raw data endpoints rather than pre-built dashboards, allowing them to build their own interfaces with AI-assisted development. Sam reflects on AI's role in her business and the broader market. While recognizing AI's potential to improve productivity and enable small teams to compete, she acknowledges the paradox of being a B Corp committed to environmental sustainability while relying heavily on AI to deliver that sustainability benefit. She describes it as "use AI or die" for a small company unable to compete with traditional development approaches. Sam discusses the advantages of being based at Cornwall Innovation Centres, including startup agility with quarterly rather than annual contracts, the ability to scale flexibly, and a supportive environment. When the team experienced connectivity issues during testing, the innovation centre team worked with them to find solutions rather than having them relocate. Sam notes feeling valued as part of a community rather than just an office number. You can find Green Power Solutions at Pool Innovation Centre.