Earlier in March, Ofgem announced that the partnership between their Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), a £450m fund specialised in subsidizing energy networks innovations, and Innovate UK will support 40 new innovation projects. The aim of this initiative being to support the United Kingdom’s efforts in attaining its net zero objectives.

 To help in the initial stages, up to £150,000 will be attributed to each project. This will allow them to carry out further research aiming to solidify their projects.

The projects cover many fields with a main focus on pushing energy networks (gas and electricity) towards a net zero transition. Ofgem highlighted ‘heat, zero emission transport, data and digitalisation, and a whole system integration’ as the principal focal points of this scheme.

Innovations projects feature Eye in the Sky, looking at using satellite data in order to map out damages done to electricity networks during natural emergencies and organise repairs.

Other projects study how hydrogen could be integrated into our current energy system providing alternatives in the transport sector; assessing the possibility of building a durable pipeline system. Additionally, hydrogen is at the heart of projects regarding freight and especially its use for heavy goods vehicles and trains.

Following this research and ‘discovery’, selected projects showing the greatest potential will receive up to £500,000 to develop their plans. Further funding will be accessible for performing projects to assist them in launching on a larger scale.

Ofgem and Innovate UK’s ambitions are clear: to promote solutions to the current energy system which would hasten the transition to net zero and help consumers access this energy. While the programme started last March, this is a real step forward in the effort to make UK a legitimate centre of innovation in the energy sector. The competitive nature of the scheme will undoubtedly encourage innovation and set standards of excellence across all the different projects.

Link to Ofgem’s press release:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/energy-networks-launch-40-new-innovation-projects-help-great-britain-accelerate-transition-net-zero