Cutting emissions will require large-scale changes to almost every part of the UK economy, including the decarbonisation and improved efficiency of domestic and industrial heating. Heating accounts for 37 per cent of total UK carbon emissions.
Heating is one of four initial challenge areas identified by Ofgem. The other areas targeted by the innovation fund are transport, data and digitalisation, and “whole system integration” (which covers the entire journey of electricity from plant to plug). Further challenges will be announced in due course.
Projects could include new approaches to energy storage or rolling out heat pumps to UK homes, Ofgem said. It said that ideas must be “big, bold, and ambitious with potential to scale across the networks upon completion”.
The fund will be made available over the next five years, with the possibility of extension for some “strong plans”. It is to be run by Ofgem in partnership with Innovate UK. It is open to companies...