Bright Spark
Episodes
Turning Innovation into Impact: The SIF Approach
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of a two-part series, we explore what commercialisation and deployment mean within the Strategic Innovation Fund, and how the SI...
Keeping the lights on - supporting a resilient energy system
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is the future of network resilience and preparedness? Ellen Webb-Moore, energy systems innovation lead at SIF, visits the headquarters of SP Ener...
Crowdflex part two: Building customer trust in consumer-led flexibility
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jim and Laura for the second instalment of this two-part series on consumer-led flexibility, explored through the SIF funded Crowdflex ...
Crowdflex part one: Building confidence in consumer-led flexibility
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 proje...
SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting transformational energy network innovation
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jodie, Laura and Joe as they discuss the SIF’s Round 5 strategic challenges, which reflect the most urgent opportunities for energy network inn...
INCENTIVE: SIF innovation from idea to impact
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
INCENTIVE is the first SIF Beta project to reach completion. In this episode, members of the INCENTIVE team share their learnings and future plans wit...
Digitising and repurposing the gas network: Futuregrid at DNV Spadeadam
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the UK increases deployment of net zero technologies, gas demand is anticipated to fall significantly. Some gas networks may be repurposed, with pr...
Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2025
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
A guided tour of NeRV (Net Zero Research Village)
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The recently-launched Net Zero Research Village (NeRV) near Gateshead is the UK’s first facility for combined whole-systems research, development an...
Influence and impact: hearing from SIF's advisory board
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
All change at SIF!
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 oppo...
Whole system planning: National Grid's Carolina Tortora
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Digi...
Power-to-gas (P2G) for system flexibility: Prof Sarah Walker and Aurora's Anise Ganbold
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A focus on how enabling power-to-gas (P2G) can improve energy system flexibility and network optimisation. Professor Sarah Walker from Newcastle Unive...
Professor Keith Bell: fair, secure and net zero power
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Keith Bell holds the Scottish Power Chair in Future Power Systems at the University of Strathclyde. In this episode, SIF's David Richardson ...
Electrifying heat: Christopher Taylor of Vital Energi
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Electrifying heat: a tour of Octopus Energy's heat pump R&D centre
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Commercialising innovation: how to take new ideas to 'business as usual'
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To decarbonise our energy networks, new ideas and technologies must move quickly from 'innovation' to ‘business as usual’. The Ofgem Strategic Inn...
Ofgem’s 2022-23 Strategic Innovation Fund Challenge areas (2 of 2)
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 inno...
Ofgem’s 2022-23 Strategic Innovation Fund Challenge areas (1 of 2)
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
A giant leap together to transform our energy systems
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do we really mean by a 'Giant Leap Together'? It conveys what we must do to realise the Strategic Innovation Fund's far-reaching a...
Off the Starting Blocks…
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
Introducing energy network innovation
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund is a £450 million programme to drive down UK energy’s carbon footprint, at lowest cost to consumers. Innovate U...
Series trailer: Energy network innovation
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This new series dives deep into energy network innovation, and explores opportunities on offer to entrepreneurs, investors and others through Ofgem's ...