Innovation
As part of the RIIO-T1 and GD1 price controls in 2013 we will introduce the Network Innovation Competitions (NIC). These are annual competitions for electricity and gas, where network companies compete for funding for research, development and trialling for new technology, operating and commercial arrangements. Funding will be provided for the best innovation projects which help all network operators understand what they need to do to provide environmental benefits and security of supply at value for money as Great Britain (GB) moves to a low carbon economy.
We are currently designing the NIC, and will learn from the design of the Low Carbon Networks (LCN Fund) introduced for electricity distribution in 2010. There will be two NICs, the gas NIC will be for projects related to gas transmission and distribution, whereas the electricity NIC will only be for projects related to electricity transmission. At the end of the current electricity distribution price control in 2015 the LCN Fund will be folded into the electricity NIC and it will fund projects for electricity transmission and distribution.
We have set out key elements of the NIC within the price control documents but are developing the detail in a separate workstream. We are advised by a multi-stakeholder working group – details, presentations and meeting notes are set out in the linked page.
What’s New
On 21 March 2012 we published our decisions on the high level design features of the Network Innovation Competition and set out the next steps for implementing the wider package of measures known as the Innovation Stimulus.
We will hold meetings of the Innovation Working Group meeting (IWG) througout 2012, where we intend to continue to discuss developing the NIA and NIC governance arrangements.
For further information and to attend this meeting please contact networks.innovation@ofgem.gov.uk.
Latest documents
Published below are the relevant Network Innovation Competition documents.