Bradford-based energy metering company Switch2 Energy Solutions has been sold to Manchester-based ENER-G in a deal which opens up a vast range of new markets and projects.

The Cullingworth company, which employs 85 people and has more than doubled its turnover from £4 million to £7 million in the past 18 months, specialises in providing energy metering, control and billing for domestic and commercial consumers.

Switch2 Director Jayne Clare said the acquisition by ENER-G, which employs 550 people in the UK and overseas, would increase the firm's ability to compete for projects, particularly in London where incorporating renewable energy was a requirement for construction projects.

She said: "The complementary strengths of our two organisations mean that we can fund, deliver and support long-term district and community energy projects. This will bring significant benefits to our industry and enable more clients and customers to save energy and money on their utility bills. Switch2 fits strategically with ENER-G's current operational sectors of energy management, renewable energy, and energy from waste."

Switch2 was launched in 1980 as Mainmet, and in 2004 was bought by its UK management team from its German owners, Viterra Energy Services. Over the past 18 months the turnover has grown and it now employs 85 people, including a team of field engineers.

It focused on the district and community heating sectors but more recently has expanded into the private sector housing market. This has included involvement in developments such as the Manchester Beetham Tower, London Stratford Eye and Berkeley Homes' prestigious Royal Arsenal project in Woolwich Following the deal with ENER-G, Jayne Clare and fellow director Chris Fortes, will remain while David Phillips will retire after a six-month hand-over period.

ENER-G chairman Tim Scott was delighted with the deal, saying the two companies' skills and experience would be complementary.

He sais: "ENER-G already provides generation systems for district and centralised heating schemes, and the addition of Switch2 now enables us to offer complete end-to-end solutions in this growing market.

"These schemes deliver important social, economic and environmental benefits, particularly in tackling fuel poverty in the social housing sector. Switch2 fits strategically with ENER-G's current operational sectors of energy management, renewable energy, and energy from waste and we are delighted to have its team on board."