Prepare for Strategic Innovation Fund pitch and beyond

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Next steps

• [x] @sequencefree to email names of 2 people who will pitch to SIF_Ofgem@iuk.ukri.org by 1500 on Friday 8th September 2023.
• [x] @sequencefree to develop slide deck and plan for pitch.
• [x] @sequencefree to clarify definition of, and engage with, potential partners for Alpha stage: 1. At least one flexibility service provider (including storage providers) with a direct customer or consumer interaction and 2. A technology provider, developer, installer, or significant operator of assets that can provision flexibility.
• [ ] @sequencefree to approach Christopher Jackson, Co-Founder at Advanced Infrastructure (who presented at Innovate UK x Ofgem x Carbon Trust | 2023-07-18 - Market Access and Commercialisation) for advice.
• [x] @sequencefree to consider whether it's worth sending anyone to https://smarter.energynetworks.org/oxford-energy-innovation-forum-tuesday-19th-september/
• [ ] @sequencefree to read consultation document for https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/engaging-consumers-journey-decarbonised-and-flexible-future-energy-system?s=09
• [ ] @sequencefree to explore idea of using Ofgem's Innovation Link service with Carbon Co-op.
• [x] Decide whether to attend ENA Energy Innovation Summit 2023#65

Background

• Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund News | Issue Nine explains next step: "Third party innovators will be invited to pitch their innovative ideas to the networks in early September. Once the pitches have taken place, networks will confirm the innovators they want to work with, and formal introductions will be made. Round 3 Discovery opens for applications on 4 September 2023."
• https://github.com/mysociety/neighbourhood-warmth/issues/64
• Master folder on mySociety Google Drive
• Round 3 Innovation Challenge Document
• Marked up SIF Governance Document v2.1
• Innovation section of 🔬 Home energy research brief
• Call notes: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) | 2023-08-17 - Steve Atkins, Senior Manager, Stakeholder (Distribution), Frank Clifton, Innovation Manager, Zoe Farrell, DSO Technical Architect & Patricia Carr, Stakeholder Relations Manager
• Call notes: Energy Networks Association | 2023-08-18 - Dr. Avinash Aithal, Head of Open Networks

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Strategic Innovation Fund Call for Ideas application.pdf

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Email received today (my bolding) and forwarded to Zarino + Carbon Co-op:

Following your submission into the Ofgem Round 3: Call for Ideas, your idea has been reviewed by Innovate UK and we would now like to share your idea with all GB Electricity Distribution Networks.

We plan to share your application in its entirety as submitted into the Innovation Funding Service (IFS). If you have any objection to sharing this documentation with the Networks, please confirm in writing by 5pm on Tuesday 29th August 2023 to SIF - Ofgem SIF_Ofgem@iuk.ukri.org

Innovate UK’s privacy policy is accessible here.

**The pitch

You will receive a notification on Tuesday 5th September (at the latest) informing you if the energy Network(s) would like to invite you to pitch.

Pitching sessions will take place on the following dates:

Thursday 7th September

Friday 8th September

If you are invited to pitch, the format of the session will be a 7 minute presentation of your idea followed by Q&A from the energy Networks in attendance. Your presentation should be representative of the allocated time and should not include videos or external links. Please do not include any confidential or commercially sensitive information that you do not wish to share with the energy Networks.**

Being invited to pitch your idea, does not guarantee your proposal being taken forward or a future partnership with an energy Network. As noted in the Call for Ideas Brief document, the energy Networks will be directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies.

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@zarino We've been invited to pitch and I've asked Jonathan & Matt @ Carbon Co-op if they'd like to be involved and suggested next steps on email.

Email from Innovate UK: Invitation to pitch_ Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund – Round 3 Call for Ideas.pdf

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Matt and I think the pitch went OK today.

2 x DNOs joined (so not huge interest) – followed up with LinkedIn connection requests inviting more questions:

• Geraldine Paterson @ Electricity North West (who project manages Carbon Co-op's existing SIF project).
• Simon O'Loughlin @ Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

Simon mentioned projects below, and said he could see how they could hang together with Neighbourhood Warmth:

• Solent Achieving Value from Efficiency (SAVE)
• Social Constraint Managed Zones
• HOMEflex

Simon also asked about the geographies, and we answered that these could be based on the open data produced by Energy Networks to procure flexibility.

They also asked where we'd tested so far (presumably to know if we'd worked within their areas of responsibility).

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Received via SIF_Ofgem@iuk.ukri.org on 19/09/23 and forwarded slides in response:

We would like to acknowledge your recent participation in the Ofgem Call for Ideas pitching sessions, and thank you for pitching your idea to the Networks. The quantity and quality of submissions was particularly high this year and we would like to commend all applicants for the effort that went into these presentations, and congratulate you for making it to pitching stage.

The Networks will now enter a review stage which involve consultation with their internal subject matter experts, and consideration of these proposals in light of their existing project portfolios. Such factors will determine which Innovators they wish to be formally introduced to potentially form partnerships for future projects.

If you have not already and you are comfortable to do so, please do share your slides to the SIF mailbox for us to share with those networks who heard your pitch. We will aim to inform all Innovators of the outcome of such reviews as this information becomes available and no later than Wednesday 22 November.

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Call for Ideas outcome - 10093811 Archived by me

SIF - Ofgem Fri, 13 Oct, 13:57 (5 days ago) to me, SIF

We sincerely appreciate your interest and effort in participating in our R3 Call for Ideas Competition. I am writing to inform you about the outcome of the evaluation process for your submitted proposal.

After careful consideration and a thorough review of all the received proposal, we regret to inform you that your proposal has not been selected to move forward to the pitching phase of the Call for Ideas. Whilst your proposal demonstrated creativity and potential, we received a large number of exceptional entries, making the selection process highly competitive.

We would like to share the following feedback on your proposal to provide constructive insights and suggestions for further improvement. We believe this feedback will be valuable to you and help you refine your ideas for future endeavours.

Thank you for your time and effort preparing your proposal. Unfortunately no further action was taken on your proposal because the networks felt that there may be duplication of BAU work and that your proposal may sit outside of the remit of Network Innovation. We hope to see you again in future rounds.

We value your continued engagement with the SIF programme, and would like to share a few resources which you may find useful for future proposals and participation;

·
Description and link to the SIF introduction to energy networks webinar series and SIF youtube channel

·
Description and link to the newsletter sign up for opportunities to participate in future challenge setting

·
Link to The Summit website with the message that it will be opening for registration soon - https://www.energyinnovationsummit.org.uk/

·
For wider energy innovation funding opportunities and events please visit the KTN energy website.

Kind regards,

Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund | Innovate UK, UKRI

Follow these links for more information on the SIF:

SIF playlist on Innovate UK’s YouTube channel | SIF podcast, Bright Spark | Sign up for regular SIF newsletters