Join the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) for an energising Meet the Innovator session helping energy networks uncover the latest groundbreaking companies solving the energy sector’s biggest problems. Hear quick fire pitches from trailblazers driving a new level of efficiency, resilience and performance across the sector. Following the pitches, dive into open networking where you can meet innovators directly, explore their solutions in depth and ask the questions that matter to your organisation. In just 90 minutes, discover fresh thinking, potential partners, and the next supplier who could help solve the problems keeping you up at night. 

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Angus Dent, Innovation Engineer - EIC

Facilitator

 

Britain’s gas networks are entering the next delivery phase on emissions and leakage reduction and we need the supply chain and innovators to help us. In this session, the GB gas networks will present their Innovation Strategy and ambitions for lowering emissions across their networks, and improvements in leakage detection, prevention and repair. Join this session to put forward your solutions, innovations and ideas to help lower emissions across the gas network. Uncover the two-year delivery horizon and the funding routes available to support innovation, trial and deployment across the networks — providing clarity on how projects are brought forward, assessed and scaled. This interactive session will test assumptions, challenge prioritisation and refine the delivery pathway.   

Discussion points:  

• Where can technology deliver the most immediate and material methane and leakage reduction?  
• Which solutions are deployment-ready, and what validation is required for scale?  
• How should innovation funding be used to de-risk and accelerate adoption?  
• What technical or operational barriers must be prioritised first?  
• What collaboration models best enable rapid trial and rollout? 

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Nolan Robertson - FEN (Future Energy Networks)

This session explores growing industry calls for greater transparency and accessibility of grid data to enable better capacity assessments.
Join this interactive session to examine why current heat maps and capacity datasets are considered incomplete and inconsistent, and how this impacts developers. Participants will discuss how to better collaborate and enable digital innovation throughout the electricity system and identify opportunities to improve data publication across networks. The session aims to define practical, collaborative steps toward a more open and efficient data ecosystem.

Discussion points:

• What are the biggest barriers innovators and developers face with current grid capacity data?
• How can we maintain system security whilst supporting third party digital innovators to build solutions?
• What specific data gaps (e.g., distribution vs. transmission, low‑voltage, demand‑side visibility) cause the greatest issues for developers today?
• When does it make sense for NESO and the networks to focus on enabling third parties to develop digital solutions, and when does it make sense for them to build their own?
• What short‑term actions should Ofgem, NESO, and networks take to improve capacity data accuracy and accessibility?

In partnership with: 

 

Facilitator
Peter Clutton-Brock, Chief Executive - Yottar

As utilities face increasing pressure to monitor infrastructure more efficiently, drone technology offers safer, faster and lower-carbon alternatives to traditional inspection methods. Yet in the water sector, adoption remains fragmented and largely confined to pilots rather than coordinated, operational deployment. This interactive session will bring together utilities, regulators and technology experts to explore what it takes to scale drone operations in the water sector, drawing lessons from sectors such as energy where deployment is more advanced. 

Join this collaborative session to discuss:

• How drones can move from pilots to BAU operations
• What operational and regulatory barriers are preventing wider adoption
• What lessons the water sector can learn from energy and other utilities
• Building a roadmap for scaling drone technology

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Hannah Muirhead, Senior Associate - Ofwat Innovation Fund
 

Join this interactive workshop to explore how Stream and CReDO are collaborating to enable secure, scalable data sharing to build climate‑resilient infrastructure across the UK. Take part in this facilitated discussion to unearth further high‑value, cross‑sector use cases that support coordinated planning and measurable resilience improvements. Open to all utility providers - bring your real‑world problems and ambitions!

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Melissa Tallack - Northumbrian Water Group
Alanna Gluck, CReDO Engagement Lead - Connected Places Catapult

Join Spring for an energising Meet the Innovator session spotlighting the disruptors reimaging the future of water. Discover pioneering companies that are unlocking efficiencies, revealing hidden opportunities and tackling critical challenges. Hear quick fire pitches from trailblazers driving a new level of efficiency, resilience and performance across the sector. Following the pitches, dive into open networking where you can meet innovators directly, explore their solutions in depth and ask the questions that matter to your organisation. In just 90 minutes, discover fresh thinking, potential partners, and the next supplier who could help solve the problems keeping you up at night. 

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Ellis Collins, Knowledge Transfer Lead - Spring
 

As the nature of GB’s power grid fundamentally changes with more renewables and growing flex markets, the control room also needs to adapt to best combine human expertise with advanced automation technology to manage a complex grid. This session explores the concept of the Control Room of the Future and how control room roles, systems and capabilities must evolve to improve grid resilience in the face of climate, cyber and operational challenges.

Joins this interactive session to collaborate with your peers and discuss:

• How to leverage AI, automation and enhanced system visibility. How to balance technology and auto mated control with human expertise.
• How the control room will support whole systems thinking and data sharing across the whole network.
• How to ensure resilience in the grid so customers have security of supply.

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Paul Jewell, Associate - EIC