Bright Spark

Join Jim and Laura for a two-part series diving into the future of consumer-led energy flexibility, through the lens of the SIF-funded Crowdflex project. The project explores how households can play an active role in balancing the electricity grid—whether by shifting when they use power or by making their electric vehicles available for smart, automated control.

In part one, SIF Policy Lead Jim Wrigley sits down with Cathy Fraser, Head of Market Requirements at the National Energy System Operator (NESO). Together, they unpack why domestic flexibility matters, and how projects like Crowdflex are helping to build confidence in it as a reliable way to keep the grid in balance.

For more details, check out NESO’s press release on the Winter trial results, and explore the full set of reports on the Crowdflex webpage.

In part two, Jim will be joined by project partners OVO and Ohme to discuss their roles within Crowdflex and to provide further insights into the customer perspective.

For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

See the SIF programme page on Innovate UK's Business Connect website 

Sign up to the SIF newsletter for regular updates on SIF news and events

Join Jodie, Laura and Joe as they discuss the SIF’s Round 5 strategic challenges, which reflect the most urgent opportunities for energy network innovation. 

Find out about our ideation webinars and workshops, bringing innovators together with networks and other third parties to explore potential solutions and project ideas. Learn about how you can engage with the SIF team throughout the year via our SIF Round 5 Expression of Interest form.

There are so many opportunities to get involved, find out more about SIF, and drive development of new SIF project ideas. Come and join us on the journey of transforming our energy system!

Round 5 strategic innovation challenges on the Ofgem website

Round 5 ideation webinar recordings on YouTube Ofgem SIF webinar series: Round 5 Ideation

Ofgem SIF programme page on Innovate UK’s Business Connect website

SIF Round 5 Expression of Interest Form

Sign up to the SIF newsletter for regular updates on SIF news and events

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/sif

See the SIF programme page on Innovate UK's Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund

Links:

National Gas Future Grid: www.nationalgas.com/future-energy/futuregrid

For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif

See 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/sif

See the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund

Sign up for regular SIF newsletters

All 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/sif

See the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund

Sign up for regular SIF newsletters

All 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/sif

See the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: Ofgem

Strategic Innovation Fund

Sign 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/sif

Sign 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/sif

Sign 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/sif

Sign up for regular SIF newsletters.

All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark