The award consists of:
£1 million for 8 discovery projects
£3.2 million for 7 alpha projects
£18.7 million for 3 beta projects
Discovery feasibility studies explore early-stage solutions to the sector’s most pressing challenges.
Cycle five projects are covering multiple challenge areas. From how networks plan for uncertainty created by renewable generation and shifting demand, to accelerating grid access for large loads, such as data centres, through flexible demand approaches.
They include:
Robotics Integration for Sustainable Energy (RISE), led by Scottish & Southern Electricity Distribution, will use robotics to enable faster, safer working practices, more efficient operations, and minimise customer disruption.
The Green Molecule Project, led by Southern Gas to develop new routes to decarbonise the gas network through synthetic methane production and inter-seasonal energy storage.
Alpha proof-of-concept projects test promising ideas in more depth.
Two of the projects in this cycle have progressed straight to Alpha after receiving support from other innovation funding schemes.
UK Power Networks lead on Neighbourhood Watts, developing a scalable, community-led model for local energy balancing designed to cut bills, support networks and widen participation in low-carbon energy systems.
Led by National Grid, Automating Marine Plant Ecosystem Restoration for Energy Supply (AMPERES): will test robotic seagrass planting as a way to make marine habitat restoration safer, lower cost and more scalable as offshore grid infrastructure expands.
At the large-scale demonstration stage, beta projects take innovation closer to market readiness and commercial deployment. They include:
Fractal Flow: a collaborative multi energy network project led by Northern Powergrid, developing a near-real-time digital twin intended to improve coordination and situational awareness across control rooms.
And two projects led by the National Energy System Operator (NESO):
Network Security in a Quantum Future (NSiaQF): developing tools to map emerging quantum-related cyber risks to energy assets.
FastPress: a decision-support tool for long-term planning, operation and repurposing of the GB gas transmission network. FastPress has progressed straight to beta, building on earlier backing from another innovation funding scheme.
All these successful projects underline the SIF’s pivotal role in supporting ambitious projects that will help transition Britain’s gas and electricity networks as the country moves towards a low-carbon energy system.
“This latest SIF investment marks an important step in accelerating the pace of innovation needed to transform our energy system” said Marzia Zafar, Deputy Director for Digitalisation and Innovation at Ofgem. “As we move into the RIIO-3 period, it is essential that we continue to back bold, scalable solutions that can deliver tangible benefits for consumers and support the transition to net zero. The SIF plays a critical role in bringing together industry, academia and innovators to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing the sector. Through a more coordinated, programmatic approach we are strengthening collaboration, enabling shared learning and ensuring that projects are supported to maximise their impact. By maintaining this focus on delivery, transparency and collaboration, we can ensure that innovation moves beyond demonstration and into real-world deployment - helping to build a more resilient, efficient and decarbonised energy system for the future.”
Jodie Giles, Deputy Director, Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund at Innovate UK, said:
“Firstly, congratulations to the successful project teams. We are at a critical point for the SIF and wider energy innovation landscape as we transition to the new RIIO3 price control period. As these projects progress the new SIF programmatic approach will ensure they are supported through our Innovation Delivery Groups (IDGs). Designed to provide a collaborative community of projects in a specific innovation challenge area, IDGs will facilitate shared learning, support with tackling barriers and monitor progress against challenge outcomes. The oversight, facilitation and transparency the SIF programme provides is vital in helping us demonstrate value for consumers, address climate change and support UK businesses to grow and scale.”
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