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, Senior Innovation Engineer - EIC

Innovators
James Perry, Director - Egnida
Iain Chirnside, Director - Steer Energy
Matthew Dean, SEND Research & Innovation Manager - Keele University
Steve Carroll, Head of Research & Technical Services - Cenex
Rick Farrell, Director of Innovation - Thunk

To deliver a new generation of infrastructure, utilities need a strong and stable supply chain – as well as new ideas, fresh approaches and exposure to innovation. In this session, two procurement leaders set out exactly what they are looking for in supply chain partners - the capabilities, relationships and approach to innovation that gets vendors noticed. Hear firsthand insight into how utilities make purchasing decisions, what they need from their supply chain right now, and where priorities are shifting in the next few years. Followed by an exclusive preview of Utility Week Live's plans for 2027, with an opportunity to meet the team over lunch.

Facilitator
Ellen Bennett - Utility Week

Panel
Paul Redgate, Head of Supply Chain and Commercial (East Region) - National Gas

Britain’s gas networks are moving into delivery mode on emissions and leakage reduction — and we need proven ideas and credible partners now.
In this session, GB gas networks will set out our Innovation Strategy, near-term priorities, and where we’re actively looking for solutions across detection, prevention and repair.
This isn’t a showcase. It’s a working session.
Bring your technology, challenge our assumptions, and help shape what gets trialled, funded and scaled over the next two years. You’ll leave with a clear view of where the opportunities are, how projects are selected, and the routes to deployment across the networks.

 

If you’re serious about getting solutions adopted — this is where to engage.

We’ll tackle:

• Where methane reduction can be delivered fastest and at scale
• What’s deployment-ready vs what still needs proving
• How funding will be used to de-risk and accelerate adoption
• The critical barriers holding back rollout
• The collaboration models that actually work in practice

In partnership with: 

Facilitator
Nolan Robertson - FEN (Future Energy Networks)
Lewis Kirkwood, Innovation Manager - Northern Gas Networks
Alistair Carvell - National Gas Transmission

Many key decisions about grid connections are made early in project development, often with limited visibility of feasibility, cost and timelines. This drives uncertainty for developers, creates unnecessary workload for networks, and slows the progression of viable projects.

This interactive session brings together networks, developers and innovators to explore how accurate grid assessments could be enabled earlier. We will focus on what level of insight is needed to support real decisions, and how this could be enabled in a way that is practical, secure, and aligned with network operations.

Discussion points:

• For developers - what level of grid assessment accuracy or confidence is needed to make robust connection decisions without relying on submitting an application?
• What would be required to enable this required level of insight earlier (data, models, access)?
• What would need to change, at a system level, to enable accurate capacity assessment?
• What level of investment in data engineering capability in networks is needed to provide this level of data and insight at scale? 
• Should providing data become a much more significant part of the networks’ role?

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
Tim Hall - Catapult Satellite Applications
Ben Williams, Innovation Engineer - National Gas
Frederic Laugare - Civil Aviation Authority

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, Independent Co-Lead - Stream
Alanna Gluck, CReDO Engagement Lead - Connected Places Catapult
James Daniel - UKPN

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

Innovators
Elliot Duffy - Anaplan
John McGurk - Quell
Luke Read, Director - Neo Air Systems
Charles Hine - Waterwhelm
Hasse Storebakken, CEO - Aqua Alarm

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