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PODCAST

Bright Spark

Why energy system innovation matters, for both consumers and the drive to net zero. We meet the brilliant teams pushing to transform UK energy networks, and showcase opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors and others to get involved, via Ofgem"s Strategic Innovation Fund, delivered by Innovate UK. Series hosted by Innovate UK"s Jodie Giles and team.

technology entrepreneurship

All Episodes

30:55

Keeping the lights on - supporting a resilient energy...

Bright Spark ·

2025/10/30

What is the future of network resilience and preparedness? Ellen Webb-Moore, energy systems innovation lead at SIF, visits the headquarters of SP Energy Networks to learn about two projects that both address resilience and preparedness, from different angles.First, Fraser Lynch joins Ellen to talk about Predict 4 Resilience (P4R) - a SIF beta-funded tool that will predict outages and faults on the network using weather and other data, to mobilise personnel and proactively prepare resources ahead of

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44:22

Crowdflex part two: Building customer trust in...

Bright Spark ·

2025/10/06

JoinJimand Laura for the second instalment of this two-part series on consumer-led flexibility, explored through the SIF funded Crowdflex project. The project examines how households can actively support grid balancing—whether by shifting their energy use to different times or enabling smart, automated control of their electric vehicles.In this episode, SIF Policy LeadJimWrigley is joined by OVO’s Elizabeth Allkins and Ohme’s Rosie Knight, both project partners in Crowdflex acting as Demand Side

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42:01

Crowdflex part one: Building confidence in...

Bright Spark ·

2025/08/28

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

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23:16

SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting...

Bright Spark ·

2025/06/23

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 toexplore potential solutions and project ideas.Learn about how you canengage with the SIF team throughout the year via our SIF Round 5Expression of Interestform.There are so many opportunities to get involved, find out more

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52:27

INCENTIVE: SIF innovation from idea to impact

Bright Spark ·

2025/04/25

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

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36:17

Digitising and repurposing the gas network:...

Bright Spark ·

2025/03/03

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:

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35:41

Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2025

Bright Spark ·

2025/01/20

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/sifSee the SIF programme

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46:11

A guided tour of NeRV (Net Zero Research Village)

Bright Spark ·

2024/12/03

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 Leadat Ofgem SIF, who catches up on recent and upcoming policy

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38:08

Influence and impact: hearing from SIF's advisory board

Bright Spark ·

2024/11/14

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/sifSee the SIF programme page on Innovate UK, Business Connect website: OfgemStrategic Innovation FundSign up for regular SIF

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15:25

All change at SIF!

Bright Spark ·

2024/08/19

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/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All past episodes of Bright Spark

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43:51

Whole system planning: National Grid's Carolina Tortora

Bright Spark ·

2024/05/03

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:

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55:13

Power-to-gas (P2G) for system flexibility: Prof Sarah...

Bright Spark ·

2024/04/30

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/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters.All episodes of

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54:04

Professor Keith Bell: fair, secure and net zero power

Bright Spark ·

2024/04/25

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:

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44:17

Electrifying heat: Christopher Taylor of Vital Energi

Bright Spark ·

2024/04/11

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 SIF Innovation Lead Bethany Foster about the way ahead for deploying electric heat. Bethany and SIF programme lead Jodie Giles also consider 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:

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33:41

Electrifying heat: a tour of Octopus Energy's heat...

Bright Spark ·

2024/04/09

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/sifSign up for regular SIF newsletters -

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42:01

Commercialising innovation: how to take new ideas to...

Bright Spark ·

2022/12/16

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

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48:23

Ofgem’s 2022-23 Strategic Innovation Fund Challenge...

Bright Spark ·

2022/10/28

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

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42:47

Ofgem’s 2022-23 Strategic Innovation Fund Challenge...

Bright Spark ·

2022/08/04

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 ofpreparing for a net zero power system, and supporting a just energy transition. Guests are Professor Tim Green from Imperial College London, and

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36:25

A giant leap together to transform our energy systems

Bright Spark ·

2022/05/06

What do we really mean by a'Giant Leap Together'? Itconveys what we must do to realisethe Strategic Innovation Fund's far-reaching ambition to decarbonise energy networks. The net zero push is nothing short of a moonshot, requiring urgent input from networks, suppliers, investors, regulators, funders, policy-makers, and everyone involved in energy.In this episode, Innovate UK’s Matt Hastings and Kate Jones hear from Randolph Brazier, the director of innovation and electricity systems at the Energy

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28:24

Off the Starting Blocks…

Bright Spark ·

2022/03/21

Showcasing some of the 40 exciting early-stage projects that secured funding in round 1 of Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). The SIF, which is delivered through a partnership with Innovate UK, is a £450 million programme to fund and support projects to drive down UK energy’s carbon footprint at lowest cost to consumers. With Innovate UK’s Matt Hastings, David Richardson and Kate Jones, and featuring Nick Smith from Northern Gas Networks, Michael Eves from SP Energy Networks, and Simon

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