Driving change in energy: Exploring LCP Delta’s role in Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund projects

As the UK’s energy systems evolve to meet ambitious decarbonisation targets, LCP Delta, is proud to be part of three Alpha phase projects funded by Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF):

• Electric Thames project: Decarbonising London’s waterways.
• FREE Project: Enhancing energy reliability with fuel cell CHP and domestic thermals.
• Flex Direct: Transforming social housing to reduce peak demand.

These projects are aimed at transforming the UK’s gas and electricity networks, and we’re working alongside industry leaders and communities to create scalable, innovative energy solutions. This blog marks the beginning of our expert-led series where we’ll delve into the goals, challenges and transformative potential of each project highlighting LCP Delta’s critical role in each one.

Unified Themes: Resilience, Flexibility and Decarbonisation

Each of these projects is rooted in three overarching goals:

• Energy resilience: Building a robust energy network that adapts to fluctuating requirements and disruptions.
• Flexibility: Employing technologies like vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and combined heat and power (CHP) to create adaptable community-centred solutions.
• Decarbonisation: Advancing low-carbon strategies that align with the UK’s net zero targets.

By collaborating across sectors and integrating economic and technical modelling, these projects are tailored for real-world implementation, combining stakeholder insights with scalable solutions that align with Ofgem’s vision for the future of energy.

Project spotlight

Electric Thames project: Decarbonising London’s waterways

Project overview:

Led by UK Power Networks, Marine Zero, Port of London Authority and ev.energy, this project is reimagining the electricity infrastructure around the Thames. By deploying boat charging stations and V2G technology which allows boats to send electricity back to the grid. By supporting decarbonisation of waterway transportation it offers an alternative to costly grid reinforcement during peak-demand periods.

Why it matters:

Decarbonising the Thames goes beyond just one river. It exemplifies how urban waterways can integrate into a national low-carbon energy strategy. V2G technology here could provide essential grid flexibility to the energy system, turning vessels into mobile energy assets that can support peak demand and grid stability. If successful, Electric Thames could pave the way for innovative approaches to integrating waterways into the national energy strategy, offering new avenues to reduce the UK’s urban transport emissions and enhance grid resilience.

LCP Delta’s role:

LCP Delta are responsible for developing the implementation approach, business case and driving stakeholder engagement. 

FREE Project: Enhancing energy reliability with fuel cell CHP and domestic thermals

Project overview:

Led by Northern Powergrid in partnership with Northern Gas Networks, Bosch, E.ON, University of Strathclyde, Fifty5north, and EA Technology, the FREE (Fuel-cell Renewable Energy Equity) project explores the potential of fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems for resilient home energy. By integrating fuel cell CHP with domestic thermal storage, the project aims to deliver a backup power supply for homes and nearby neighbourhoods, particularly critical as heating and mobility electrification accelerates.

Why it matters:

Reliable, local power like fuel cell CHP offers an efficient and resilient solution for households, supporting backup power during outages, while reducing constraint on the electricity network. This project will demonstrate the viability of deploying fuel cell technology at scale, offering households an energy solution that is both greener and more resilient, playing a vital role in the low-carbon future.

LCP Delta’s role:

LCP Delta supports Northern Powergrid in overall project management, serving as the delivery and research lead. We coordinate the project using Prince2 methodology, a standard preferred by network organisations and contribute to business model development to support the long-term success of fuel cell CHP solutions.

Flex Direct: Transforming social housing to reduce peak demand

Project overview:

Led by UK Power Network with SIA Partners, Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and Utilita, this project focuses on reducing peak demand by promoting energy efficiency and insulation initiatives in social housing. By developing new commercial models for flexibility markets, Flex Direct helps local authorities and social housing providers boost energy efficiency, engage hard-to-reach customers, and reduce overall demand.  

Why it matters:

By addressing residential heating and power in social housing, Flex Direct offers significant potential for reducing peak demand which can lower costs and increase grid resilience. This approach highlights the importance of inclusivity in decarbonisation, creating a more sustainable future that benefits all. 

LCP Delta’s role:

LCP Delta’s role involves developing baselining methods for forecasting peak demand changes and defining housing archetypes with project partners.