Bright Spark
by Innovate UK
Latest episode
Breaking into Energy Innovation - Part 2
Breaking into Energy Innovation - Part 2
About this podcast
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.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 29 episodes
- Breaking into Energy Innovation - Part 2 · 46 min · Episode 28This episode explores how SMEs can turn their innovations into successful, scalable businesses. In the first conversation, Nikita Dabizha, founder and CEO of VoltQuant, shares…
- Breaking into Energy Innovation - Part 1 · 37 min · Episode 27In this episode, Emilia, Commercial Lead on the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) programme, is joined by Paul, Head of Commercial for SIF, to explore how SMEs can navigate the…
- Forecasting the Future: Managing an Evolving Energy Network · 44 min · Episode 26Energy Networks are becoming more distributed and complex. Electricity Distribution Network Operators (DNO) are at the sharp end of this evolution and their capabilities to…
- Networks Reimagined: Driving innovation for a future energy system · 40 min · Episode 25In 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…
- Power Under Pressure: Predicting Climate Risk in Energy · 34 min · Episode 24Climate 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…
- Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2026 · 39 min · Season 1 Episode 23In 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…
- Turning Innovation into Impact: The SIF Approach · 26 min · Season 1 Episode 22In 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…
- Keeping the lights on - supporting a resilient energy system · 31 min · Season 1 Episode 21What 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…
- Crowdflex part two: Building customer trust in consumer-led flexibility · 45 min · Season 1 Episode 20Join 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…
- Crowdflex part one: Building confidence in consumer-led flexibility · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 19Join 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…
- SIF Round 5 Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting transformational energy network innovation · 23 min · Season 1 Episode 17Join 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…
- INCENTIVE: SIF innovation from idea to impact · 53 min · Season 1 Episode 16INCENTIVE 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…
- Digitising and repurposing the gas network: Futuregrid at DNV Spadeadam · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 15As 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…
- Celebrating successes and setting sights on 2025 · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 15This 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…
- A guided tour of NeRV (Net Zero Research Village) · 46 min · Season 1 Episode 14The recently-launched Net Zero Research Village (NeRV) near Gateshead is the UK’s first facility for combined whole-systems research, development and demonstration – covering…
- Influence and impact: hearing from SIF's advisory board · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 13What 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…
- All change at SIF! · 16 min · Season 1 Episode 12Big 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…
- Whole system planning: National Grid's Carolina Tortora · 44 min · Season 1 Episode 11Carolina 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…
- Power-to-gas (P2G) for system flexibility: Prof Sarah Walker and Aurora's Anise Ganbold · 55 min · Season 1 Episode 10A 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…
- Professor Keith Bell: fair, secure and net zero power · 54 min · Season 1 Episode 9Professor 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…
