A new Energy Innovation Summit, the only event of its kind bringing together energy innovators and decision makers from across the energy sector, will be held at the SEC in Glasgow on 28-29 September 2022.
Recognising the challenges we face to transform the UK’s energy system for a Net Zero future at lowest cost to consumers, The Summit is the result of a powerful new partnership between Energy Networks Association (ENA), Innovate UK (part of UK Research and Innovation), the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and Ofgem.
The Energy Innovation Summit is built on the foundations of the Energy Networks Innovation Conference (ENIC) held in previous years. With new partners and an expanded the scope, The Summit will be a forum where all who lead or work on innovation in the energy sector can come together to share, learn and collaborate to help solve key sectoral challenges.
The Summit brings together lessons from a wide range of energy innovation projects across all the major innovation funders. With a new, fully integrated Whole Systems Innovation Strategy published by Energy Networks Association last month, this new event will demonstrate first-hand the value of innovation in every aspect of our energy system. The Summit will show how this is driving the next generation of innovation projects across the sector, and helping turn these projects into the next generation of products and services.
As the UK continues to work towards our Net Zero targets, the push for innovation in the gas and electricity networks has never been more important. The Energy Innovation Summit, with delegates from across the UK and around the world, will become an important event to support the energy transition.
David Smith, Chief Executive of Energy Networks Association which represents the UK and Ireland’s energy networks said:
“This year's Energy Innovation Summit is a new look event, showcasing the home-grown innovations being delivered by an industry laser focused on decarbonisation and supporting customers. Innovation plays a vital role in delivering Net Zero at best value for customers and this year’s event on 28-29 September will be one of the most important with the current focus on our industry.
“I’m delighted that we’re returning to Glasgow, a city with ambitious plans on climate action, and that we’re able to partner with government, Ofgem and Innovate UK to highlight the cutting-edge projects and programmes being delivered across the industry. I look forward to welcoming you all to the Energy Innovation Summit later this year.”
Matt Hastings, Deputy Director of the Ofgem SIF programme at Innovate UK, added:
“We need new ways of working to combat the significant challenges facing people, planet and business and the Energy Innovation Summit could not come at a more pressing time. Sharing insights from innovation activities across BEIS, UKRI, Ofgem and the energy networks will ensure better value for money from all innovation spending and delivery better outcomes for all.
"At Innovate UK we have a wide range of established energy innovation programmes, and now also work in partnership with Ofgem to deliver its £450m five-year Strategic Innovation Fund. Our vision for the Summit is for it to become the most important energy events in the calendar, where we work together to solve key sectoral challenges, share insights from across all innovation funders, and form the kinds of new collaborations we need to deliver net zero in time."
Notes to editor
- Delegate registration and the full agenda for this year's conference can be found on the new Energy Innovation Summit website.
- The Whole Systems Innovation Strategy was published by ENA on 4 April 2022 after an extensive programme of industry engagement, talking to over 300 industry representatives.
About Innovate UK:
- Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency, part of UK Research and Innovation. It drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base.
About Ofgem:
- Ofgem – the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets - is Britain’s independent energy regulator. Its role is to protect consumers now and in the future by working to deliver a greener, fairer energy system. It does this by:
- Working with Government, industry, and consumer groups to deliver a net zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers.
- Stamping out sharp and bad practice, ensuring fair treatment for all consumers, especially the vulnerable.
- Enabling competition and innovation, which drives down prices and results in new products and services for consumers.
About the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy:
- Leading economy-wide transformation by backing enterprise and long-term growth, generating cheaper, cleaner, homegrown energy and unleashing the UK as a science superpower through innovation.
- Showcased at the Energy Innovation Summit will be the Government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which provides funding for low-carbon technologies and systems. Decreasing the costs of decarbonisation, the Portfolio will help enable the UK to end its contribution to climate change.
About Energy Networks Association
Energy Networks Association (ENA) is the industry body representing the electricity wires, gas pipes and energy system in the UK and Ireland.
ENA helps its members meet the challenge of delivering electricity and gas to communities across the UK and Ireland safely, sustainably and reliably.
Its members include every major electricity and gas network operator in the UK and Ireland, independent operators, National Grid ESO which operates the electricity system in Great Britain and National Gas which operates the gas system in Great Britain. Its affiliate membership also includes companies with an interest in energy, including Heathrow Airport and Network Rail.
What are energy network operators?
Energy network operators manage and maintain the wires, pipes and other infrastructure which delivers electricity and gas to your home, business and community. They are private companies which are regulated by Ofgem and employ around 40,000 people in Great Britain.