SIF Round 5 Challenges And Opportunities: Supporting Transformational Energy Network Innovation Bright Spark podcast

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SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting transformational energy network innovation

about a year ago 23:16

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Content provided by Innovate UK. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Innovate UK or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

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

… continue reading

19 episodes

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SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting transformational energy network innovation

published about a year ago

Share

MP3•Episode home

Content provided by Innovate UK. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Innovate UK or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

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

… continue reading

19 episodes

All episodes

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1
SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting transformational energy network innovation 23:16

8 weeks ago23:16

23:16

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…

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INCENTIVE: SIF innovation from idea to impact 52:27

17 weeks ago52:27

52:27

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…

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Digitising and repurposing the gas network: Futuregrid at DNV Spadeadam 36:17

25 weeks ago36:17

36:17

As the UK increases deployment of net zero technologies, gas demand is anticipated to fall significantly. Some gas networks may be repurposed, with projects like Project Union developing a hydrogen transmission backbone. SIF funds hydrogen projects to assess future applications. In this Bright Spark episode, SIF's Beth Foster visits FutureGrid at DNV Spadeadam, Cumbria, where research on hydrogen transport and blending supports full-scale conversion. 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…

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Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2025 35:41

31 weeks ago35:41

35:41

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/…

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A guided tour of NeRV (Net Zero Research Village) 46:11

37 weeks ago46:11

46:11

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/…

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Influence and impact: hearing from SIF's advisory board 38:08

40 weeks ago38:08

38:08

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…

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All change at SIF! 15:25

1 year ago15:25

15:25

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…

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Whole system planning: National Grid's Carolina Tortora 43:51

1 year ago43:51

43:51

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…

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Power-to-gas (P2G) for system flexibility: Prof Sarah Walker and Aurora's Anise Ganbold 55:13

1 year ago55:13

55:13

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…

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Professor Keith Bell: fair, secure and net zero power 54:04

1 year ago54:04

54:04

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/sif Sign up for regular SIF newsletters . All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark…

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Electrifying heat: Christopher Taylor of Vital Energi 44:17

1 year ago44:17

44:17

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/sif Sign up for regular SIF newsletters . All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark…

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Electrifying heat: a tour of Octopus Energy's heat pump R&D centre 33:41

1 year ago33:41

33:41

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/sif Sign up for regular SIF newsletters - https://ukri.innovateuk.org/ofgem-sif-subscription-sign-up All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark…

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Commercialising innovation: how to take new ideas to 'business as usual' 42:01

3 years ago42:01

42:01

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…

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Ofgem’s 2022-23 Strategic Innovation Fund Challenge areas (2 of 2) 48:23

3 years ago48:23

48:23

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…

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Ofgem’s 2022-23 Strategic Innovation Fund Challenge areas (1 of 2) 42:47

3 years ago42:47

42:47

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…

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