A new report has called for collective action in the UK energy sector to create an effective system to deliver innovation by improving engagement and reducing duplication.
The 2025 Innovator Action Plan produced by the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and developed in collaboration with innovators, energy networks and industry organisations says a coordinated effort is needed increase the pace of innovation, streamline processes, improve consistency and strengthen collaborative working and partnerships.
Read the report at www.ukeic.com/action-plan
Based on a survey of over 200 innovators who provided 1700 comments and suggestions, the publication showcases 12 key actions for the industry to focus on, which form part of three work streams going forward:
- Creating an effective innovator support ecosystem
- Streamlining innovation processes
- Accelerating deployment.
The actions include creating a fast ‘triage’ process to ensure innovators receive timely and consistent support, the creation of a single platform for industry challenges, streamlining governance and enhancing deployment readiness.
The proposals are a direct response to the feedback from innovators in the EIC’s 2024 survey, which indicated that 45% those questioned were satisfied with current levels of industry support, whilst 52% were satisfied with their overall interaction with networks. Commentors identified a need for ‘commonality and joint processes’, ‘burdensome procurement processes for small companies’, ‘issues with pace of projects, among others.
Following publication of the action plan, the EIC will now work with stakeholders to foster industry commitment to align approaches for consistent, collaborative industry processes to support innovators, achieve measurable outcomes across the three work streams and regularly share progress updates on the work so far.
Matthieu Michel, Operations Director at the Energy Innovation Centre said: “Although the energy sector has made some progress in innovation, challenges still remain. The 2025 Innovator Action Plan tackles key issues like limited industry coordination, slow adoption of new ideas, and fragmented processes. By streamlining processes, the plan aims to reduce duplication, boost engagement, and create a more effective ecosystem for innovation.
“This plan calls on all stakeholders to work together from idea to business as usual deployment. With clear focus and united effort, we can speed up progress, deliver transformative change, and meet the sector’s evolving needs.”
Stewart Reid, Chair of the EIC Advisory Board and Head of Future Networks at Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks said: “Innovation is central to everything we do. Many capabilities we rely on across our industry and business today wouldn’t exist without the pioneering projects that have shaped them over the past decade.
“The pace of change is accelerating as we work towards Clean Power 2030, strive to meet our 2050 targets, tackle climate change, and respond to rising expectations. More than ever, we need robust, efficient partnerships with innovators. That’s why we back this action plan; it’s a crucial step towards removing barriers and accelerating the deployment of innovation.”
Simon Orr, Head of Strategy and Innovation at National Grid Electricity Transmission said: “The UK’s decarbonisation ambition is the challenge of our time. To meet our targets, we must work more closely with the innovation community and in a more coordinated way. We need to join forces with other networks to pinpoint where our innovation goals align. By doing this, we can focus our efforts better and build on each other’s innovations and ideas.”
Paul Chapman, Head of Innovation Strategy at Northern Gas Networks said: “The Innovator Action Plan underlines the need for collaboration between innovators, stakeholders, and energy networks to overcome the challenges of accelerating energy innovation in the UK.
“By working together, we can strengthen the innovation ecosystem and better meet the evolving demands of the energy sector. We look forward to further developing our partnerships with the EIC, other energy networks and innovators to tackle these challenges and drive meaningful progress towards a more sustainable energy future.”
Eddie Mulholland, Director Process & Technology, SP Energy Networks said: “Our innovator community is vital for the electricity industry to deliver the ambitious work needed to achieve the UK’s clean energy targets for 2030 and beyond. Over the last decade, we’ve seen transformational innovation across the sector, yet there is still more to do. Together, we must accelerate change.
“With the EIC’s support, we have developed a series of actions designed to make it easier for innovators to engage in projects and scale up new technology quickly.”
Luca Grella, Head of Innovation, UK Power Networks said: “At UK Power Networks, we believe that innovation must be focused, collaborative, and grounded in the real needs of customers and the energy system.
“The Innovator Action Plan is a welcome step in strengthening the pathways between ideas and impact. We’re glad to be working with the EIC on this important initiative, supporting actions that make it easier for innovators to engage with networks and help deliver the energy transition at pace.”
Alan Ritchie, Senior Manager – Innovation at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said: “Collaboration is fundamental to unlocking the innovation needed to build the infrastructure required for a net zero future. The challenges we face, from decarbonising our energy system to ensuring resilience and affordability, demand joined up thinking across the sector.
“The EIC’s Innovation Action Plan focuses on important areas aimed at supporting the innovator community and is one way to help stimulate more collaborative thinking, turning ideas into practical solutions.”
Bart de Leeuw, Head of Innovation, Northern Powergrid said: “I’m encouraged and positive about the EIC’s 2025 Innovator Action Plan. It clearly sets out practical ways the UK energy sector can improve the innovation process and accelerate deployment. At Northern Powergrid, we look forward to continuing our work with the EIC and other industry collaborators to bring these actions to life to help accelerate progress in the UK’s energy transition.”
James Perry, Director, Egnida Innovation said: “As an SME innovator, we rely on the EIC’s work to break down barriers and create a more collaborative energy sector. The 2025 Innovator Action Plan rightly prioritises streamlining processes, strengthening industry coordination, and accelerating deployment… critical steps toward real change.
“If the industry embraces collaboration, particularly around data, we have the potential to unlock transformative solutions that not only improve efficiency but also protect customer lives. The EIC’s commitment to fostering this ecosystem is vital in turning innovation into impact.”
Akshat Kulkarni, Co-Founder and CEO, OrxaGrid said: “We’re enthusiastic about the EIC’s 2025 Action Plan. It aims to make it easier for us to develop and deploy new technologies by streamlining how innovations are handled and improving cooperation within the industry.
“This supports OrxaGrid’s mission to bring our electricity asset management solutions to the market faster and more efficiently. We appreciate the EIC’s effort to cut through red tape and promote teamwork, which is crucial for driving forward our innovative projects.”
The 2025 Innovator Action Plan is available to view and download now from the EIC website. To find out more, read our website now.
The EIC is a not-for-profit dedicated to supporting innovators throughout the innovation process, in gas, electricity transmission and distribution.
In partnership with nine energy networks, we strive to accelerate innovation to support the transition to a net zero power system by 2030.
