Smart Pension joins forces with industry leaders to unlock the potential of tokenised renewables

Smart Pension, tokenisation infrastructure provider Ctrl Alt, pension investment platform Mobius, and renewables investor Octopus Energy Generation have signed an MoU, launching the Tokenised Renewable Assets Coalition (TRAC),  a coalition to explore how tokenisation* can supercharge investments in the renewables sector and maximise savings for pension savers.

The four founding members of TRAC will look into how blockchain-based tokenisation infrastructure can integrate with existing pension investment frameworks to reduce operational complexity, enhance liquidity and lower access costs. The aim is to develop practical and compliant models that pension providers and wealth platforms can adopt to expand their investment options and deliver better outcomes.

TRAC combines Ctrl Alt’s structuring and tokenisation expertise, Mobius’ leading investment and unitisation platform, Smart Pension’s innovation in UK pensions, and Octopus Energy Generation’s strong experience in mobilising institutional capital into renewables - looking for new ways to overcome barriers for pension providers allocating to these assets.

This collaboration aligns closely with the recent Mansion House Accord and the UK Government’s Pension Schemes Bill, which encourages pension providers to invest 10% of their default funds to private market assets to improve retirement outcomes for pension savers and supercharge the UK economy. 

The government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy (FSGCS) is expected to advance these initiatives further. Building on the Mansion House Compact and Accord, the FSGCS is aiming to unlock up to £50 billion in investment for UK businesses through increased pension fund allocations to private markets and support for financial services innovation.

Smart Pension, one of seventeen signatories to the Accord that collectively represent 90% of UK active defined contribution (DC) savers, has committed to allocating 15% of its default fund to private markets and investments such as renewable energy and infrastructure projects by 2030. This commitment is exemplified by its recent £330m investment in two of Octopus Energy Generation’s renewable funds via the Mobius platform.

This collaboration will explore practical and scalable pathways to help pension schemes work towards these targets. It also invites other participants to explore wider tokenisation opportunities. 

James Finch, CEO of Mobius, said: “UK pensions, renewable assets and tokenisation have a huge amount to offer each other. Working alongside these fellow innovators provides the opportunity to explore how this combination could deliver meaningful benefits to UK savers. At Mobius we’re always expanding what’s possible in pensions, and this collaboration is a natural extension of that mindset"

Matt Ong, Founder and CEO of Ctrl Alt, said: “This coalition is an important first step in demonstrating how tokenisation can unlock access to previously hard-to-reach asset classes. By integrating our tokenisation infrastructure with a trusted investment platform, a UK master trust, and one of Europe’s largest renewable energy investors, we aim to show how blockchain-based solutions can help pensions access new investment opportunities, enhance diversification and support government growth strategies.”

James Lawrence, Director of Investment Proposition at Smart Pension, said: "We are proud to be one of the UK master trusts leading the way in technology and private markets investment, which we believe will help drive growth for the country's critical infrastructure and support our transition to a net zero economy. This collaboration will lay the foundations to help us make the innovative investments to scale, as we look to achieve tokenised AUM by the end of next year." 

‍Matt Setchell, Co-Head at Octopus Energy Generation’s funds business, said: “Renewables are destined to be tokenised, and I couldn’t be prouder to be at the forefront of this – alongside industry trailblazers who, like us, have been driving disruption for years. Through this alliance, we’ll be able to bring innovation into one of the next-gen markets and maximise savings for hard-working pensioners, all while building out a grid powered by cheap energy.”

About Smart Pension

Launched in 2015, Smart Pension now exceeds £10bn in Assets Under Management (AUM) and serves over 2 million members and 100,000 employers. It is powered by Keystone, Smart’s global savings and investments technology platform.

Aquiline, Barclays, Chrysalis Investments, DWS Group, Fidelity InternationalStrategic Ventures, J.P. Morgan, Legal & General Investment Management, MUFG and Natixis Investment Managers are all investors in Smart Pension.