Network innovation projects deliver £263m in benefits

Innovation projects have delivered more than £263m in financial benefits in the past five years, according to new figures.

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) report said gains have included lower bills, fewer interruptions and freeing up more network capacity for heat pumps, solar and electric vehicles connections.

An example cited is Northern Powergrid’s Artificial Forecasting project, which uses AI techniques to identify available network capacity, reducing reinforcement costs.

The report shows that energy network innovation is moving beyond trials and into everyday operations, delivering lower costs, greater resilience and faster support for the energy transition.

David Boyer, Director of Electricity Systems at ENA, said: “In the last financial year alone, over 400 different organisations were involved as project partners in network innovation programmes, and nearly 50 of the new projects registered last year originated from external partners.

“As innovation moves from trial to deployment, networks will continue collaborating with partners to help deliver a more resilient, efficient and affordable energy system for consumers.”