Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) with Innovate UK has backed sixteen projects with a total of £16.2m in funding.
Cycle six is the first to fund projects directly against the new SIF challenges for 2026 to 2033, with projects addressing faster infrastructure delivery, consumer-led decarbonisation, green gas, system visibility, flexible charging and outage resilience.
Projects include the Routing and Planning through Interoperable Data (RAPID), which is supporting Challenge 2: Faster build and maintenance. Development of a shared transmission data interoperability framework will streamline routing, planning, and consent, with the resulting reduction in duplication, delays, and costs, supporting the Challenge 2 ambition of delivering infrastructure 50% faster and 20% cheaper by 2035.
By creating a simpler, plug-and-play EV charging experience beyond the home, Roaming MPANs is supporting Challenge 3: Instant use domestic energy devices. By linking household electricity accounts securely to public chargers, Roaming MPANs will give drivers access to their home account, smart tariffs and rates. This will support affordable and equitable charging in line with instant plug and play connections of domestic energy devices by 2032.
Security of Supply reflecting distributed generation (SOS Racer) will assess how distributed demand-side flexibility can strengthen electricity security of supply and inform future resilience, planning and market frameworks. By supporting flexible network operation and reducing the likelihood and impact of outages, SOS Racer will contribute to Challenge 4: Eliminating energy outages – near-zero interruptions through autonomous reconfiguration and islanding by 2038.
Each challenge will be supported by an Innovation Delivery Group (IDG), made up of representatives from energy networks, decision-makers and subject-matter experts from across the sector and beyond.
IDGs are responsible for delivery of the Challenge outcomes, they will oversee and coordinate challenge specific portfolios of SIF projects.
Jodie Giles, Deputy Director Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund at Innovate UK, said:
“This £16.2 million investment backs ambitious, practical ideas that will tackle the energy systems biggest challenges – from faster build and maintenance of networks to simpler EV charging and near zero outages.
“The SIF is leading the way on moving from bright ideas to real-world impact. We identify and target the biggest system challenges, involve the right people, collaborate early, and provide dedicated support to move proven innovations into operational deployment.
“In this round we aren’t just funding projects, but a new operating model that is changing the culture of energy network innovation.
“Innovation Delivery Groups will develop the Innovation Charters funded in this cycle to provide a clear pathway for future SIF applications. Facilitating greater collaboration and knowledge sharing for each challenge, and crucially, maintaining focus on delivery of impact.”
Marzia Zafar, Deputy Director of Digitalisation and Innovation at Ofgem added:
“Through the Strategic Innovation Fund, Ofgem is helping the energy sector tackle the biggest challenges facing Britain’s energy system, from connecting major new industrial sites more quickly and speeding up network delivery, to improving resilience and making it easier for consumers to benefit from new technologies.
“The projects funded in this cycle are the first to be delivered against our new long-term Innovation Challenges, helping focus innovation on the outcomes that matter most for consumers, industry and the wider economy.”
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
