Ionech, an Oxford-based technology company developing a way to generate electricity from ambient air, has secured £2 million in seed funding.

The business says its system uses high-voltage pulses to create superoxide ions and convert thermal energy from the air into usable power.

It plans to apply the technology to energy-hungry equipment such as commercial fridges, air conditioning and ventilation units, which it says account for more than a quarter of global energy use.

The funding, led by Elbow Beach alongside an Innovate UK grant, will help Ionech scale up and run real-world pilot projects, including work with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to cut the footprint of drinks coolers.