Consumer Led Flexibility for the Clean Energy Superpower Mission
Projects must demonstrate a credible pathway to contributing to a 2GW flexibility target by 2030, focusing on AI/digital solutions or end-to-end demand segment innovations that enable system-wide demand turn-down.
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Competition Scope & Overview
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will invest up to £25 million from the Consumer Led Flexibility (CLF) Challenge as part of the Clean Energy Superpower Mission within the UKRI R&D Missions Accelerator Programme. This is subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received. The aim of this competition is to support businesses and innovators who are developing novel AI and digital solutions and other innovative product and service solutions. This competition will accelerate consumer led flexibility and scale to system adoption by 2030. Being able to evidence how your solutions will achieve impact by 2030 and contribute to the minimum two Gigawatts (GW) flexibility target is central to this opportunity.
Your proposal must develop solutions that enable flexible loads to be better utilised in system operation. Proposals should demonstrate clear staged CLF outcomes, credible commercial pathways and strong knowledge sharing plans. Learnings should then inform future CLF policy, regulation and investment decisions across the wider system.
The Clean Energy Superpower Mission programme and partners have identified a series of specific themes we wish to target within this competition. This competition is split into two strands: Strand 1. Software first approach: focussed on the role that new AI and digital tools and use cases can have in unlocking CLF at scale. We have identified a few areas in which we would like to invite proposals against; across markets and financial, forecasting and automation, and implementation. Strand 2. Demand segments: focussed on seeking end to end solutions in particular segments of demand, or markets, and takes a broader approach. This can still include elements of digital and AI solutions, for example, smart solutions.
It is your responsibility to ensure you submit your application to the correct strand for your project. You will not be able to transfer your application and it will not be sent for assessment if it is out of scope.
We are looking for outcome focussed projects. Projects must provide strong justification for how they will contribute to or enable our target of at least 2 Gigawatts (GW) of additional flexibility on the system by 2030. This is part of the Clean Power 2030 Ambition to achieve 10-12 GW demand turn down during a winter peak, based on the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) analysis.
Projects without a business lead or an end user included as part of the consortia should provide additional justification for how they will contribute to the 2030 impact ambitions without these stakeholders included.
We are anticipating a high level of interest in this programme, and UKRI reserves the right to reject any applications which we feel do not clearly align to the scope of this competition. Applicants must sufficiently justify how this funding will enable novel innovations rather than duplicate existing activity.
In applying to this competition, you are entering into a competitive process. This competition has a funding limit, so we may not be able to fund all the proposed projects. It may be the case that your project scores highly but we are still unable to fund it.
Our experience from similar competitions suggests that you could have 10% chance of success.
We consider a range of factors when determining whether to provide funding to applicants. This includes an assessment of prior conduct, such as any outstanding payments owed to Innovate UK or UKRI. Such factors may influence the funding decision, potentially resulting in a refusal of funding or an award subject to additional scrutiny.
We also reserve the right to adjust funding allocations for any of our competitions. This may be in response to changes in policy, portfolio funding considerations or broader government funding decisions.
This competition closes at 11am UK time on the deadline stated in this Innovate UK competition brief. We cannot guarantee other government or third party sites will always show the correct competition information.
Available support
There is a range of support available for applicants to this competition, and we strongly encourage you to review the options in the Background and Supporting Information section.
Official Applicant Guidance Documents
Package 2 Menu of services.pdf
This document serves as a service menu for successful applicants of the CLF programme, detailing the bespoke scale-up support available from the Energy Systems and Digital Catapults. It outlines key support themes, activities, and expected outcomes to help SMEs navigate the UK flexibility sector and prepare for commercial growth.
Download Official DocumentApplicant Briefing Consumer Led Flexibility for the Clean Energy Mission.pdf
This document provides the official applicant briefing slides for the UKRI "Consumer Led Flexibility" R&D competition. It outlines the programme’s scope, eligibility criteria, funding rules, and application process, serving as a comprehensive guide for organisations seeking to secure grant funding for clean energy innovation.
Download Official DocumentConsumer Led Flexibility for the Clean Energy Mission - Assessor guidance for applicants .pdf
This document is the official assessor guidance for the "Consumer Led Flexibility for the Clean Energy Mission" competition. It details the specific questions applicants must address, the criteria used for scoring, and the required supporting documentation for a successful grant submission.
Download Official DocumentApplication Questions & Guidance Brief
Every question below carries specific word limits and guidance criteria.
Project summary
Official Guidance
Describe your project briefly and be clear about what makes it innovative. We use this section to assign the right experts to assess your application.
Public description
Official Guidance
Describe your project in detail and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This can happen before you start your project.
Scope
Official Guidance
Describe how your project fits the scope of the competition. If your project is not in scope, it will not be sent for assessment. We will tell you the reason why.
Applicant location (not scored)
Official Guidance
You must state the name and full registered address of your organisation and any partners or subcontractors working on your project. We are collecting this information to understand more about the geographical location of all applicants.
Animal testing (not scored)
Official Guidance
Will your project involve any trials with animals or animal testing? You must select one option: Yes, No. We will only support innovation projects conducted to the highest standards of animal welfare. Further information for proposals involving animal testing is available at the UKRI Good Research Hub and NC3R’s animal welfare guidance.
Permits and licences (not scored)
Official Guidance
Will you have the correct permits and licences in place to carry out your project? We are unable to fund projects which do not have the correct permits or licences in place by your project start date. You must select one option: Yes, No, In the process of being applied for, Not applicable.
International collaboration (not scored)
Official Guidance
Does your proposed work involve any international collaboration or engagement? You must provide details of any expected international collaboration or engagement. You must include a list of the names and the countries, any international project co-leads, project partners, visiting researchers, or other collaborators are based in. You must also include details of any subcontractors or service providers. If your proposed work does not involve international collaboration or engagement, your answer must confirm this.
Export licence (not scored)
Official Guidance
You must indicate whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance. You must select one option: Yes, No.
Trusted Research and Innovation (not scored)
Official Guidance
You must explain if your proposed project work relates to UKRI’s Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Principles, including: a list of any dual-use (both military and non-military) applications to your research; a list of the areas where your project is relevant to one or more of the 17 areas of the UK National Security and Investment (NSI) Act; whether an export control license is required for this project under the academic export control guidance and the status of any applications; a list of any items or substances on the UK Strategic Export Control List. If your proposed work does not relate to UKRI’s TR&I Principles, your answer must confirm this. We may ask you to provide additional TR&I information at a later date, in line with UKRI TR&I Principles and funding terms and conditions.
Research theme (not scored)
Official Guidance
Specify which research theme, or themes, your project fits within. Your project may fall within more than one. The expectation is that any strand 2 applications will draw on elements from strand 1 themes in their approach, in order to address barriers and align with system needs. Strand 1: Software first approach (1. Multi-market co-optimisation and locational pricing, 2. Portfolio reliability and risk transfer, 3. Confidence and AI forecasting, 4. Feeder level flexibility and resilience, 5. Electric Vehicle smart charging and Vehicle to everything (V2X), 6. Heat flexibility with comfort guarantees, 7. Open datasets for AI). Strand 2: Demand segments (1. Low income households in constrained areas, 2. Industrial and commercial anchor loads, 3. Residential scaling).
Innovator support (not scored)
Official Guidance
If applicable, specify which Catapult support package services you are requesting and justify your choice. Describe: what you could achieve with this support; what you could achieve without this support; which services would deliver the greatest value. If you would like to access package one ‘trials and testing services’ from the Catapults, you must include a line in your answer confirming you have contacted them already through the route set out in the competition brief. You do not need to contact the Catapults in advance for package two, ‘scale up support services’ and do not need to include costs related to this within your application. If you do not wish to access any innovator support from the Catapults, you may answer ‘not applicable’ to this question or explain why. If you have already discussed package one ‘trials and testing services’ with the Catapults, you should outline these costs here. These costs will not count towards your own project thresholds for this competition and therefore do not need to be listed in the finance section. All costs not covered by the Innovator Support Programme must be included in your project costs, in line with the Finances section.
Technical project summary and commercial potential
Official Guidance
What approach will you take, where will the focus of the innovation be, and what is the business need, technological challenge, or market opportunity behind your innovation? In your response, explain: the business need, technological challenge, or market opportunity that aligns with the themes of this competition; how you will respond to the need, challenge, or opportunity identified; any work you have already done to respond to this need; the wider economic, social, environmental, cultural or political challenges which are influential in creating this opportunity; what you want to achieve by the end of your project; the target markets for the project outcomes and any other potential markets; your route to market, including your route to scale to multi-Megawatt deployment by 2030; how this public funding will help you accelerate or enhance your approach. You must submit an appendix to support your answer (PDF, max 10MB).
Project management and delivery
Official Guidance
How will you manage and deliver your project effectively to achieve the desired outcomes? Explain: the main work packages of your project covering milestones, dependencies, critical path, outputs and dissemination activities; your approach to project management; how you will build in the development of a benefits realisation plan; the main risks and uncertainties of the project; any output likely to be subject to regulatory requirements, certification, ethical issues. If industrial research/experimental development: explain a suggested stage gate point for UKRI to oversee; how the stage gates will inform UKRI decisions; how the project could adapt or pivot. You must submit a project plan or Gantt chart and a risk register as an appendix (PDF, max 10MB).
Team and resources
Official Guidance
Who is in the project team and what are their roles? Explain: the roles, skills and experience of all members of the project team; the resources and facilities needed for the project and how you will access them; the details of any vital external parties, including subcontractors; the current relationship between project partners; any roles you will need to recruit for. You must also provide clear justification if the project does not have a business lead, appropriate user or direct energy system expertise involved.
Current state of the art and intellectual property
Official Guidance
Are similar products currently available in the market? How is your proposed project differentiated from them? You must: include details of any existing intellectual property (IP) and its significance to your freedom to operate; explain new concepts, approaches, tools or technologies you develop or use; explain how you will manage, protect, and exploit IP during and after the project; outline the role of this public funding in enabling your innovation; explain how you will maintain freedom to operate and meet contractual IP requirements, if using subcontractors.
Wider Impacts and benefits
Official Guidance
What impact and benefits might this project have outside the project team? Referencing your theory of change and the pre-innovation baseline position, describe and, where possible, measure the economic benefits from the project to: external parties, customers, others in the supply chain, broader industry, the UK economy. Describe and, where possible, measure: any expected impact on government priorities, any expected environmental impacts, any expected regional impacts. Describe any expected social impacts (quality of life, social inclusion, jobs, education, public empowerment, health and safety, regulations, diversity). You must submit your theory of change as an appendix (PDF, max 10MB, 1 A4 page).
Costs and value for money
Official Guidance
How much will the project cost and how does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer? Provide narrative against your submitted costs to explain: your total eligible project costs; the grant you are requesting; how each partner will finance their contributions; how this project represents value for money; how it compares to what you would spend your money on otherwise; the balance of costs and grant across the project partners; any subcontractor costs; any costs you anticipate being covered by the Innovator Support Programme.
Video pitch (not scored)
Official Guidance
This video pitch offers you the opportunity to highlight the importance of your innovation. In your video pitch, you may wish to focus on: the unmet need, a brief description of your innovative solution, the potential societal impact, the target market, the reasons why your team is uniquely positioned, value for money. The format must be a direct to camera pitch. Your video must be no more than two minutes long. In your video pitch, you must: describe or show your proposed solution; describe the benefits to energy consumers and the wider UK system.