Ofgem SIF backs solutions for Britain’s biggest energy challenges

The successful projects address a range of priority areas, including accelerated infrastructure delivery, consumer-led decarbonisation, flexible EV charging, system resilience, green gas and improved network visibility. Several projects aim to support the growing demand placed on energy networks by electrification, data centres, low-carbon technologies and increasing customer expectations.

Notable projects include:

• DISPATCH, exploring how network capacity and waste heat from data centres can support faster connections for strategic industrial and commercial developments.
• RAPID, developing interoperable data frameworks to reduce planning and consent times for network infrastructure, supporting Ofgem’s ambition of delivering network projects faster and at lower cost.
• Roaming MPANs, which aims to make public EV charging as seamless as home charging by linking consumers’ electricity accounts and tariffs directly to public charging infrastructure.
• SOS Racer, investigating how distributed flexibility can improve security of supply and reduce the likelihood and impact of network outages.

The programme also introduces Innovation Delivery Groups (IDGs), bringing together networks, policymakers and industry experts to oversee delivery of each challenge area and accelerate the deployment of successful innovations into operational use.

For Metering UK members, the announcement highlights the growing role of data, flexibility, smart technologies and customer-focused innovation in enabling Net Zero. Many of the funded projects rely on improved visibility of energy usage, smarter network operations and seamless integration of low-carbon technologies, reinforcing the importance of metering infrastructure as a foundation for the future energy system.