Bright Spark Innovate UK

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: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif
Sign up for regular SIF newsletters.
All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

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/sif
Sign up for regular SIF newsletters.
All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

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: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif
Sign up for regular SIF newsletters.
All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

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 the SIF team about the way ahead for deploying electric heat. SIF programme lead Jodie Giles also considers 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: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif
Sign up for regular SIF newsletters.
All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

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/sif
Sign up for regular SIF newsletters - https://ukri.innovateuk.org/ofgem-sif-subscription-sign-up
All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www.podfollow.com/brightspark

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 Appleton, Incubation Manager at Energy Systems Catapult.
Links and onward journeys:
For more on the Strategic Innovation Fund: www.ofgem.gov.uk/sif.
To see the 'visual minutes' artwork described in this episode, see Paul's recent blog post on commercialisation: https://medium.com/@InnovateUK_Ofgem_SIF/taking-energy-innovations-from-concept-to-reality-733bcb4ecf3a.  
All episodes of Bright Spark are at: www/podfollow.com/brightspark