Welcome
We’re fostering a culture of innovation that serves our customers and stakeholders well, delivered by people who are passionate about innovation.
of NIA funding going to third party innovators (75%)
innovation projects brought into business as usual, more than any other network
of smart savings between 2015 and 2024
How are we doing it?
Innovation is a driving force behind our performance, ensuring that we are the safest, most reliable and cost-efficient electricity network in the UK, leading the way in tackling Net Zero and the Energy System Transition challenges, whilst protecting vulnerable customers. To help turn this vision into a reality, our innovation strategy has focused on six fundamental themes.
Consumer vulnerability
Delivering best value and excellent service for all our customers, both in our normal operations and in the transition to Net Zero.
Outcomes
Net zero and energy system transition
Facilitate the timely and cost-effective roll-out of low carbon technologies (LCT) and removing barriers impeding the Net Zero transition.
Outcomes
Whole energy system
Looking beyond our own networks and developing our understanding of how we interact with and impact on the wider energy system.
Outcomes
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Our DSO philosophy is flexibility first, delivering affordable capacity through competition and choice; and maximising the utilisation of the network through the use of service solutions.
Outcomes
Proactive optimised assets and practices
Improved asset understanding to optimise the operation of our network.
Outcomes
Data and digitalisation
Using data to leverage value and optimise our network
Outcomes
Our Innovation Projects
OVERVIEW
The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
Learn more about Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Wayl-Ease is developing a secure, data-driven platform to streamline the process of obtaining asset consents — bridging the gap between network oper
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All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Electric Thames explores how electric vessels can support the grid by supplying power during peak demand — reducing strain, cutting CO₂ emissions,
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Consumer vulnerability
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Flex Direct aims to make energy flexibility markets more accessible by creating new commercial arrangements. It will empower social landlords to offer
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Commercial buildings have high energy demands predicted to increase through further electrification as they move towards decarbonisation. Power Block
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Proactive optimised assets and practices
Electricity networks require resilient communications to operate safely and efficiently. To provide this level of resilience typically comes at a high
View project
All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
CLEO is a digital platform that supports local authorities and communities in collaboratively planning, optimising and delivering low-carbon energy pr
View project
OVERVIEW
The Consumer vulnerability is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
Past Projects
Consumer vulnerability
Keeping Comms Open is designed to benefit customers who have a Smart UPS device in their home or live near a Community Satellite phone. In the event o
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Strategic Innovation Fund
Consumer vulnerability
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Flex Direct aims to make energy flexibility markets more accessible by creating new commercial arrangements. It will empower social landlords to offer
View project
All Live Projects
Consumer vulnerability
Data and digitalisation
UK Power Networks is developing a new digital tool to help vulnerable consumers who are at risk of being left behind by the energy system transition.
View project
Consumer vulnerability
Net zero and energy system transition
The Green Home Support Service is a new, accessible service designed to provide customers of all budgets and backgrounds with the information and supp
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All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Consumer vulnerability
Net zero and energy system transition
SHIELD is an ambitious initiative designed to make the transition to Net Zero more accessible for low-income residents, including those in social hous
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All Live Projects
Consumer vulnerability
Data and digitalisation
Spotlight addresses the critical issue of supporting vulnerable customers during power outages, a situation that can cause stress, financial strain an
View project
OVERVIEW
The Net zero and energy system transition is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Wayl-Ease is developing a secure, data-driven platform to streamline the process of obtaining asset consents — bridging the gap between network oper
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Data and digitalisation
The Blue Light project is designed to simplify and streamline the electricity connections process for emergency services — helping them decarbonise
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Data and digitalisation
Indus 2.0 is exploring how industrial decarbonisation will reshape the future energy system. By enabling data sharing across energy networks, the proj
View project
All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Electric Thames explores how electric vessels can support the grid by supplying power during peak demand — reducing strain, cutting CO₂ emissions,
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Consumer vulnerability
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Flex Direct aims to make energy flexibility markets more accessible by creating new commercial arrangements. It will empower social landlords to offer
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Trading Connections is a project designed with customers at its core, aiming to explore connection queues and develop a public-access tool that will v
View project
OVERVIEW
The Whole energy system is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Wayl-Ease is developing a secure, data-driven platform to streamline the process of obtaining asset consents — bridging the gap between network oper
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Data and digitalisation
The Blue Light project is designed to simplify and streamline the electricity connections process for emergency services — helping them decarbonise
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Data and digitalisation
Indus 2.0 is exploring how industrial decarbonisation will reshape the future energy system. By enabling data sharing across energy networks, the proj
View project
All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Electric Thames explores how electric vessels can support the grid by supplying power during peak demand — reducing strain, cutting CO₂ emissions,
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Proactive optimised assets and practices
Electricity networks require resilient communications to operate safely and efficiently. To provide this level of resilience typically comes at a high
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Indus aims to create a framework to develop zero carbon industrial parks, enhancing the decarbonisation of small and medium-sized dispersed industrial
View project
OVERVIEW
The Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO) is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
All Live Projects
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Data and digitalisation
Understanding the true scale of solar generation on the electricity network is crucial for supporting the transition to Net Zero. AI for Visibility an
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Consumer vulnerability
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Flex Direct aims to make energy flexibility markets more accessible by creating new commercial arrangements. It will empower social landlords to offer
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Trading Connections is a project designed with customers at its core, aiming to explore connection queues and develop a public-access tool that will v
View project
All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
CLEO is a digital platform that supports local authorities and communities in collaboratively planning, optimising and delivering low-carbon energy pr
View project
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Park and Flex aims to explore using EVs in carparks to access flexibility services, facilitating the efficient connection of low carbon demand and gen
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
The Lightspeed project has two main use cases for deployment on-street: retrofitting lampposts and new lampposts. These face different challenges due
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OVERVIEW
The Proactive optimised assets and practices is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Proactive optimised assets and practices
Electricity networks require resilient communications to operate safely and efficiently. To provide this level of resilience typically comes at a high
View project
All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Proactive optimised assets and practices
CReDO+ (Climate Resilience Decision Optimiser) is a digital platform that uses digital twin technology to help safeguard infrastructure networks again
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Past Projects
Proactive optimised assets and practices
An innovative new trial alongside engineering and built environment consultancy, Arup is seeing a 4-legged robot deployed in confined spaces during re
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Proactive optimised assets and practices
The data generated by this project will tell us where, who, when, and what has been done near our network helping to identify fault locations, prevent
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Proactive optimised assets and practices
Distribution networks are becoming increasingly complex during the Net Zero transition as new systems and equipment are rolled-out. Trinity aims to re
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All Live Projects
Strategic Innovation Fund
Net zero and energy system transition
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Proactive optimised assets and practices
Heatropolis is pioneering a first-of-its-kind commercial and technical solution to create a smarter, more flexible electricity and heat network. By co
View project
OVERVIEW
The Data and digitalisation is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future.
All Live Projects
Flexibility and commercial evolution (DSO)
Data and digitalisation
Understanding the true scale of solar generation on the electricity network is crucial for supporting the transition to Net Zero. AI for Visibility an
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Data and digitalisation
The Blue Light project is designed to simplify and streamline the electricity connections process for emergency services — helping them decarbonise
View project
All Live Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Whole energy system
Data and digitalisation
Indus 2.0 is exploring how industrial decarbonisation will reshape the future energy system. By enabling data sharing across energy networks, the proj
View project
All Live Projects
Consumer vulnerability
Data and digitalisation
UK Power Networks is developing a new digital tool to help vulnerable consumers who are at risk of being left behind by the energy system transition.
View project
Strategic Innovation Fund
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Data and digitalisation
CLIP is pioneering a community-led Net Zero planning approach for multiple clusters of communities. By using an innovative circular digital planning p
View project
Past Projects
Net zero and energy system transition
Data and digitalisation
Powercast is an innovative solution, including a data sharing and notification solution with delivery partner ev.energy. Powercast provides real-time
View project
If you have an idea that could reshape or revolutionise the way we work, we want to hear from you.
Submit an idea