Karl Drage is UK Head at Noventa Energy Partners, an Ancala Infrastructure portfolio company. Previously, he has held board positions at GI Energy, Smart Renewable Heat, and Kensa Heat Pumps, as well as a senior leadership role as Head of Growth at Severn Trent Water. Karl has played a pivotal role in the renewable energy and electrification of heat sectors, overseeing the installation of over 5,000 heat pump systems and leading the design, installation, and commissioning of some of the largest heat pump systems in Europe. Karl has also developed funded heat pump models, deploying over £20 million of project finance in heat pump and heat network schemes. As the inaugural chair of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association, he significantly grew its membership and influence. He has been deeply involved in policy development and lobbying through groups such as the ADE, HPA, BEAMA, and BSRIA, advocating for heat pump adoption and the electrification of heat. Karl has contributed to consultations around key policies such as the Clear Skies programme, Renewable Heat Incentive, Code for Sustainable Homes, Future Homes Standard, Heat and Buildings strategy, Clean Heat Market Mechanism, Green Finance Initiative, Green Heat Network Fund, and Heat Network Decarbonisation policy.

His academic work includes leading research on the impact of heat pumps on the grid and developing the ambient heat network/distributed networked heat pump model, with a focus on whole life costs and energy system impacts, formally published with CIBSE. Karl is currently involved in financing and developing city-scale heat networks, particularly integrating raw-water and sewer-source wastewater heat, collaborating with Water Utilities, Heat Network Providers, Local Authorities, and major heat offtakers. A Fellow of the IMechE, Karl is focused on bridging technical expertise and commercial leadership as the renewable heat industry evolves into the mainstream heat industry.