SP Energy Networks has secured nearly £1 million in funding from Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund to advance two of its projects, Equiflex and LVOE.

These projects aim to address key challenges facing the electricity network as the UK transitions to a more sustainable future. Specifically, they seek to remove barriers to flexibility services and help balance voltage differences on the network to accommodate the increasing adoption of low-carbon technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps.

Equiflex, awarded £424,011, aims to promote equal access to flexibility services for all customers. By partnering with Frazer-Nash Consulting Ltd, Energy Action Scotland, East Ayrshire Council, the University of the West of Scotland, and ScottishPower, Equiflex will investigate flexibility options, barriers to access, and develop a toolkit to advise stakeholders on how to participate in the flexibility market. This will help ensure that all customers have an equal opportunity to benefit from the potential savings associated with flexibility services.

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LVOE, awarded £490,119, focuses on addressing low voltage imbalance on the network. As more households adopt low-carbon technologies, the demand on the network increases, requiring substantial upgrades. LVOE aims to explore the use of a low voltage power electronic device, known as the LV Optimiser, to reduce the need for some of these upgrades, potentially saving millions of pounds.

This is the second round of funding secured for these projects through the Strategic Innovation Fund, demonstrating their potential to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient electricity network.

Eddie Mulholland, Director of Processes and Technology of SP Energy Networks, said: "Being able to move these projects forward, thanks to the Strategic Innovation Fund, will help us explore the feasibility of rolling these projects out, not just across our own network, but the wider electricity network.

"LVOE is another example of our innovative adoption of power electronics to improve the resilience and efficiency of our network to enable our customers to adopt low carbon technologies at the scale and pace necessary to reach Net Zero. While Equiflex is part of our pioneering approach to flexibility as we move towards becoming a DSO.

"Securing this funding is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team as we continue to use innovation in the best interests of our customers and wider stakeholders."