Ren Kang

Dr Ren Kang is a Chinese-British engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Mixergy while completing his PhD research at the University of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science. Working alongside Pete Armstrong in the university's Energy and Power Group, Ren developed the foundational technology for a smart hot water tank that could heat water from the top down, store energy intelligently, and integrate with the national grid — addressing one of the most overlooked yet impactful areas of household energy use.

Ren co-founded Mixergy in 2014 and serves as Head of R&D, leading the continued development of the company's smart cylinder technology. Mixergy's patented approach heats only the water needed, cutting hot water bills by up to 40–60%, and enables tanks to act as flexible energy storage units — absorbing surplus renewable energy and releasing it on demand. This positions each Mixergy cylinder as a node in a wider grid-balancing network.

The company has attracted investment from Foresight Williams Technology, IP Group, Oxford Sciences Enterprises, Barclays Climate Ventures, Nesta, and EDP Ventures, and completed a £12 million round in 2024. Mixergy's tanks are now available nationwide through British Gas and other installer networks, with the company pivoting toward a licensing and partnership model for new builds, social housing, and commercial estates.