How can we enable whole-system decarbonisation approaches?

As GB transitions towards a net-zero energy system, an integrated, multi-vector approach across electricity, gas, heat, and transport is essential to optimise system-wide decarbonisation. The growing interdependencies between these vectors require advanced optimisation frameworks that provide a holistic view of energy flows, enhance system resilience, and support coordinated infrastructure investment. By integrating multiple energy carriers, multi-vector systems can improve energy efficiency, reduce system costs, and unlock innovative decarbonisation pathways that would not be feasible under siloed approaches.

Current energy system planning methods often focus on individual vectors in isolation, limiting the ability to leverage synergies between electricity, green gases (including green hydrogen) and heat networks. Without a whole system perspective, infrastructure investments may be suboptimal, and opportunities for flexibility and cost savings across vectors may be missed. This approach is also important to address the future configuration and operation of the gas network. Addressing these challenges requires innovative system modelling, and investment strategies that reflect the full value of multi-vector integration in the future energy system.

Through focusing on this challenge, SIF aims to:

• Improve coordination between electricity and gas networks to enable efficient system transitions by developing advanced modelling tools with regional granularity.

• Enhance investment decision-making across multiple energy vectors through whole system insights that inform cost-effective, integrated planning.

• Facilitate better policy development by providing a robust, data-driven foundation for future energy network evolution.

• Support the integration of low-carbon fuels and technologies while maintaining system stability and resilience through improved network modelling and forecasting.

• Develop evidence for future gas network configurations that deliver overall system benefit by assessing long-term system needs and optimisation strategies.

This webinar will set the context for this challenge theme and provide useful references and examples. It will bring together innovators, industry experts, network professionals, and other relevant stakeholders to share insights and create a common understanding of challenges and barriers to developing a multi-vector optimisation approach.

Please join us to learn more about the challenge theme and contribute to the conversation. The webinar will also be followed by a collaborative workshop to ideate potential solutions and bring partners together – you can express your interest through this form: How can we enable whole-system decarbonisation approaches? Tickets, Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite

About the Strategic Innovation Fund

The Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund was established in 2021, as a programme with funding of £450m+ over five years, to drive innovation and transformation in energy networks. By the end of 2024, the programme has committed over £270m in total funding across 234 projects in different stages of development (Discovery, Alpha, Beta).

Ofgem and Innovate UK recently launched Round 5 of the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to address strategic energy sector needs. For more information, please visit the SIF website here: Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) | Ofgem

Webinar agenda:

• Overview of the challenge

• Overview of the SIF process and requirements

• Examples of current innovations in the space

• Expert deep dives on the challenge, including industry case studies

• Q&A with our expert panel

Who is this webinar for?

• Energy networks and network planners

• Industry organisations

• Infrastructure providers

• Policy & Regulatory specialists

• Research institutions

• Technology providers & innovators

• Utilities

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Keywords

Ofgem, Strategic Innovation Fund, Energy, Energy Networks, Energy Systems, Innovation, Energy transition, Online event

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This event is hosted by the Carbon Trust on behalf of Innovate UK in support of Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) Round 5 Ideation Activity. By submitting this event registration form, you are agreeing for your personal data to be shared with the Carbon Trust and Innovate UK for the purpose of registering you for this event and contacting you regarding ideation workshops and other support activities.

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This webinar will be run on Microsoft Teams. Participant details such as names may be visible to all attendees. The webinar will be recorded and an edited version will also be made available on a video sharing platform by CT and/or IUK. Participant names may appear in the recording. By registering for this event, you are happy for your details to be visible.

If you have any questions, concerns or require further clarification, please contact us via SIF_Ofgem@iuk.ukri.org.