Bright Spark

INCENTIVE is the first SIF Beta project to reach completion. In this episode, members of the INCENTIVE team share their learnings and future plans with us. As the first project to complete, dissemination of their outcomes - including collaboration, continuity of the work and deployment of the technology after the SIF funding stops - provides valuable insights, especially for other Beta projects. In this episode, SIF programme director Jodie Giles speaks with energy systems innovation lead Suraj Paneru.We also welcome INCENTIVE partners Robert Keast from the Carbon Trust, Callum Henderson from SSE, and Adnan Mahmood of SSEN.For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSee the SIF programme page on Innovate UK's Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund

Proponents of hydrogen say it's a crucial part of a future energy mix, and a vital tool to help achieve UK net zero. The SIF funds a range of hydrogen projects to test, assess and demonstrate their future application. For this episode of Bright Spark, SIF's Beth Foster visited FutureGrid at DNV Spadeadam, just south of Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria. FutureGrid is working to create insights into hydrogen transportation and blending – to support the full-scale conversion to hydrogen. Links:National Gas Future Grid: www.nationalgas.com/future-energy/futuregridFor more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSee the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund

This episode of Bright Spark looks back at the Strategic Innovation Fund's successes and lessons over 2024, and asks what's in the pipeline for 2025. Last year was a busy year; the team awarded 88 projects, and a further 12 demonstration projects, and approved over £100million in funding. SIF programme director Jodie Giles is joined for this one by Head of Delivery Kate Jones and Head of Commercial Paul Padaruth.For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSee the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation FundSign up for regular SIF newslettersAll episodes of Bright Spark are at: https://podfollow.com/brightspark/

The recently-launched Net Zero Research Village (NeRV) near Gateshead is the UK's first facility for combined whole-systems research, development and demonstration – covering gas, electricity and water.In this episode of Bright Spark, Kate Jones, SIF's Head of Delivery, visits NeRV. She is given a tour by Richard Hynes Cooper, Head of Innovation at Northern Gas Networks. Also at NeRV is Joseph Davidson, Energy Systems Innovation Lead at Ofgem SIF, who catches up on recent and upcoming policy developments with Luke Ames Blackaby, Ofgem's Innovation Hub head.Links:NeRV website: https://uknerv.com/For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSee the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation FundSign up for regular SIF newslettersAll episodes of Bright Spark are at: https://podfollow.com/brightspark/

What can SIF projects do to ensure they maximise their impact and influence?As we reach the Fund's midway point and award our second tranche of larger 'Beta' funding, programme director Jodie Giles speaks with SIF advisory board members Maxine Frerk (chair) and John McKiernan. Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSee the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: OfgemStrategic Innovation FundSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

Big changes are coming to the Strategic Innovation Fund. From September, it will be easier and quicker to bid for funding, and there will be more opportunities in every year for innovators to get involved. To explain what's changing and why, SIF programme lead Jodie Giles and Head of Delivery Kate Jones are joined by Ofgem's Marzia Zafar. Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All past episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

Carolina Tortora is - or was - a real-life rocket scientist. However, she says she is far more excited by her role as National Grid ESO's Head of Digital Transformation and Innovation Strategy. Carolina took time out to talk to SIF's David Richardson. David and SIF programme lead Jodie Giles also reflect on the role of Carolina and others in whole-system planning for faster and cheaper network transformation.Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

A focus on how enabling power-to-gas (P2G) can improve energy system flexibility and network optimisation. Professor Sarah Walker from Newcastle University's Centre for Energy, and Anise Ganbold, Head of Research, Global Markets and Hydrogen at Aurora Energy Research, talk to the SIF team. Jodie Giles, SIF programme lead, also considers the importance of P2G.Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

Professor Keith Bell holds the Scottish Power Chair in Future Power Systems at the University of Strathclyde. In this episode, SIF's David Richardson spends some stuff chatting all things energy transition with Keith. David and SIF programme lead Jodie Giles also reflect on Keith's thoughts about UK's role as a leader in the energy transition, and his experiences across a long and brilliant career in energy.Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

Vital Energi are one of the key UK companies looking at heat pumps and energy storage, to unlock power grid flexibility. In this Bright Spark episode, Vital's Technical Development Director Christopher Taylor talks to the SIF team about the way ahead for deploying electric heat. SIF programme lead Jodie Giles also considers how electric heat is an integral part of the energy transition to net zero.Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

Octopus Energy entered the heat pump market in 2021, with the launch of Britain's first heat pump R&D centre on a Slough trading estate. In this episode of Bright Spark, Octopus's Jess Colleen shows SIF's Manu Ravishankar around the centre. Manu and SIF programme director Jodie Giles consider the challenges faced around energy system flexibility and electrifying heat. Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters - https://ukri.innovateuk.org/ofgem-sif-subscription-sign-upAll episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

To decarbonise our energy networks, new ideas and technologies must move quickly from 'innovation' to ‘business as usual'. The Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) deliberately brings together fast-moving entrepreneurs with major energy network companies to speed up this journey. In this episode, SIF Head of Commercial Paul Padaruth explores these challenges, in conversations with John McKiernan, head of innovation at Irish utility ESB, Jo-Jo Hubbard, co-founder and CEO of Electron, and Eric Appleton, Incubation Manager at Energy Systems Catapult. Links and onward journeys: For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif. To see the 'visual minutes' artwork described in this episode, see Paul's recent blog post on commercialisation: https://medium.com/@InnovateUK_Ofgem_SIF/taking-energy-innovations-from-concept-to-reality-733bcb4ecf3a. All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www/podfollow.com/brightspark

A second episode on the four challenge areas in round 2 of Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The £450 million SIF develops and supports innovations that could drive down UK energy's carbon footprint at lowest cost to consumers. Innovate UK's Matt Hastings and Manu Ravishankar focus on the challenges of decarbonising major energy demands, and driving up energy system resilience and robustness. Guests are UCL's Professor Liz Varga, Yselkla Farmer of BEAMA, and Rick Curtis from the Greater London Authority. The SIF is an Ofgem programme delivered by Innovate UK: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

The first of two Bright Spark episodes focusing on the four Challenge areas in round 2 of Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The £450 million SIF develops and supports innovations that aim to drive down UK energy's carbon footprint at lowest cost to consumers. In this episode, Innovate UK's Matt Hastings and Manu Ravishankar look at the challenges of preparing for a net zero power system, and supporting a just energy transition. Guests are Professor Tim Green from Imperial College London, and Ed Rees of Citizens Advice. The SIF is an Ofgem programme delivered by Innovate UK: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

What do we really mean by a 'Giant Leap Together'? It conveys what we must do to realise the Strategic Innovation Fund's far-reaching ambition to decarbonise energy networks. The net zero push is nothing short of a moonshot, requiring urgent input from networks, suppliers, investors, regulators, funders, policy-makers, and everyone involved in energy.In this episode, Innovate UK's Matt Hastings and Kate Jones hear from Randolph Brazier, the director of innovation and electricity systems at the Energy Networks Association. We also meet Ali Safari, founder and chief executive of Oxford-based artificial intelligence innovators Farad.ai. Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is a £450 million programme to fund and support projects to drive down UK energy's carbon footprint at lowest cost to consumers. It is delivered through a partnership with Innovate UK. Find details of the SIF online at www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif, and see our Giant Leap Together animation on YouTube here: youtube.com/watch?v=iKqU0p8A84g

Showcasing some of the 40 exciting early-stage projects that secured funding in round 1 of Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The SIF, which is delivered through a partnership with Innovate UK, is a £450 million programme to fund and support projects to drive down UK energy's carbon footprint at lowest cost to consumers. With Innovate UK's Matt Hastings, David Richardson and Kate Jones, and featuring Nick Smith from Northern Gas Networks, Michael Eves from SP Energy Networks, and Simon Langdale from Synovate. Find details of the SIF online at www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund is a £450 million programme to drive down UK energy's carbon footprint, at lowest cost to consumers. Innovate UK's Matt Hastings and Chris Coonick introduce us to energy network innovation. We also hear from Ofgem's Francis Mosley and Graeme Barton on the urgency of decarbonising, and we visit one exciting example of innovation in practice – Energy Superhub Oxford. The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is delivered for Ofgem by Innovate UK: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

This new series dives deep into energy network innovation, and explores opportunities on offer to entrepreneurs, investors and others through Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund, delivered by Innovate UK www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif