Bright Spark
Innovate UK
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Networks Reimagined: Driving innovation for a future energy system
In this episode Jodie talks to Marzia Zafar, Deputy Director for Digitalisation and Innovation at Ofgem, and Laura Sandys CBE, Chair of the Energy Network Innovation Taskforce, about the SIF’s new…
Power Under Pressure: Predicting Climate Risk in Energy
Climate change means that more extreme weather is going to hit Great Britain. It is vital that we do our best to understand and predict the risks to build resilience in the energy sector.Nicolas…
S1E23 Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2026
In this episode of Bright Spark we look back at the Strategic Innovation Fund's successes across 2025 and give a preview of what’s in store for 2026.Across 2025 the SIF continued to fund…
S1E22 Turning Innovation into Impact: The SIF Approach
In this first episode of a two-part series, we explore what commercialisation and deployment mean within the Strategic Innovation Fund, and how the SIF team is working to drive impact at scale across…
S1E21 Keeping the lights on - supporting a resilient energy system
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…
S1E20 Crowdflex part two: Building customer trust in consumer-led flexibility
Join Jim and 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…
S1E19 Crowdflex part one: Building confidence in consumer-led flexibility
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…
S1E17 SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting transformational energy network innovation
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…
S1E16 INCENTIVE: SIF innovation from idea to impact
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,…
S1E15 Digitising and repurposing the gas network: Futuregrid at DNV Spadeadam
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…
S1E15 Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2025
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…
S1E14 A guided tour of NeRV (Net Zero Research Village)
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…
S1E13 Influence and impact: hearing from SIF's advisory board
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…
S1E12 All change at SIF!
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…
S1E11 Whole system planning: National Grid's Carolina Tortora
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.…
S1E10 Power-to-gas (P2G) for system flexibility: Prof Sarah Walker and Aurora's Anise Ganbold
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,…
S1E9 Professor Keith Bell: fair, secure and net zero power
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…
S1E8 Electrifying heat: Christopher Taylor of Vital Energi
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…
S1E7 Electrifying heat: a tour of Octopus Energy's heat pump R&D centre
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…
S1E6 Commercialising innovation: how to take new ideas to 'business as usual'
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…
Frequently Asked Questions
Bright Spark has published 26 episodes since March 2022, covering topics in Business, Entrepreneurship.
Bright Spark is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 months. Average episode length is 39m.
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