Clarium Associates
Regulated network innovation and advisory

Partnering for impact.
Executing with purpose.

We're not a slide-deck consultancy. We shape concepts, make the economics stack up, secure financing, and deliver on the ground — from early idea to something funded, built, and operational.

£15m+ Innovation funding secured for energy network clients
£20m+ Innovation funding secured for water network clients
Innovation funding available 2026–2031
£500m SIF >£300m NIA +£400m Water
What We Do

Three services. One integrated offer.

At Clarium, we blend deep sector expertise with a bias for action — shaping concepts, making the economics stack up, and delivering on the ground. Our offering spans both energy and water networks, under the Ofgem and Ofwat innovation regimes alike.

Utility Network Innovation

We develop concepts aligned to sector priorities and lead submission of innovation applications — then manage governance, reporting, risk and delivery post-award. We take the lead in drafting compelling innovation bids that are fully compliant, at no cost.

  • Develop concepts aligned to sector priorities and lead submission of innovation applications
  • Manage governance, reporting, risk and delivery post-award
  • SIF and NIA funding strategy, bid development and submission
  • Consortium formation and technology partner matchmaking
  • TRL-staged development roadmaps from research through to deployment
  • Commercial and economic support to move projects toward scale or adoption

SIF — Strategic Innovation Fund

Ofgem's flagship innovation mechanism: £500 million for 2026–2031 with an additional £50 million deployment fund. Designed to drive transformational innovation with a mandatory pathway to business-as-usual adoption.

NIA — Network Innovation Allowance

Over £300 million available for 2026–2031. Faster-turnaround funding available annually to licensed network operators — ideal for early-stage concept development and technology trials.

Water Innovation

Over £400 million in water innovation allowance available for 2026–2031. We work with multiple GB water utilities seeking innovation partners with relevant technology and research.

Bid writing at no cost

We take the lead in drafting fully compliant bids. Reduced admin and bid-writing pressure on innovators, with handling of all regulatory, commercial and reporting requirements on your behalf.

Explore our analysis of the energy and water challenges →

Early-Stage Infrastructure Development

We define bankable opportunities, build a team set up to succeed, and own and deliver work packages — identifying, structuring and sourcing capital across project stages.

  • Define bankable opportunities and build a team set up to succeed
  • Identify, structure, and source capital across project stages
  • Grid connection strategy and connection queue navigation
  • Regulatory engagement and licence condition interpretation
  • Business case development and project financial modelling
  • Own and deliver work packages end-to-end

Project Scoping

We identify and frame bankable opportunities — defining the problem, the market, the regulatory environment, and the team needed to succeed.

Financing & Commercial Design

We structure capital across project stages — from early development funding through to construction and operational financing.

Project Delivery

We own and deliver work packages, managing stakeholders, navigating regulations, gathering market insights and developing economic models throughout.

Grid Connection Navigation

Expert guidance on the GB transmission and distribution connection queue — strategy, sequencing and engagement with network operators to avoid delays and costs.

Energy System Strategic Advisory

We support direction setting with clear, grounded insights — and build economic models, commercial frameworks and investment analysis to support internal decision making.

  • Support direction setting with clear, grounded insights
  • Build economic models, commercial frameworks and investment analysis
  • RIIO and price control strategy and submission support
  • Policy response and regulatory consultation engagement
  • Energy system modelling and scenario analysis
  • Net zero transition roadmaps for networks and organisations

Economic Modelling & Commercial Frameworks

We build the analytical foundations that support investment decisions, regulatory submissions and strategic planning — models that decision-makers can trust and use.

RIIO Price Control Strategy

Supporting network operators through the regulatory price control cycle — from business plan development through to Ofgem engagement and final determination responses.

Market Insights & Intelligence

We gather and synthesise market intelligence to inform strategy — understanding what competitors, regulators and technology providers are doing and planning.

Stakeholder Management

Identifying the right stakeholders and engaging them effectively — from regulators and network operators to investors, developers and communities.

Our Ecosystem

One relationship. The whole innovation ecosystem.

For GB electricity, gas and water networks: one front door to the capabilities, partners and innovators that turn ideas into funded, deployed solutions.

Clarium core team Academia Birmingham · UCL · Warwick Associates 20+ global experts Innovators & technology Your network Lower TRL Higher TRL

Clarium Core Team

Technical, commercial, economic, regulatory and bid-writing capability combined in one accountable team. Every engagement starts and ends here.

Associates

More than 20 global expert associates spanning energy networks and adjacent fields — specialist depth available on demand, without big-firm overhead.

Academia

Leading UK universities including Birmingham, UCL and Warwick. A live pipeline of lower-TRL, cutting-edge research ready to be connected to live network challenges.

Innovators & Technology Providers

A curated base spanning network monitoring, flexibility and DER, storage, hydrogen and green gas, asset health, and data and AI. We know who is credible and investment-ready.

What this means for you

Connecting innovation with GB network challenges.

From exploratory research to deployable, operational solutions

We support the full journey — shaping early-stage ideas into concepts that networks can actually adopt and operate.

Aligned to GB utility priorities and regulatory expectations

Concepts are shaped from the outset to meet current Ofgem expectations and network operator priorities — not retrofitted later.

Direct connection to GB energy and water networks

We have active relationships with all GB network operators and multiple water utilities who are actively seeking innovation partners.

Introduction to delivery partners where needed

We build and strengthen consortia — bringing in the right technical, academic and commercial partners to make bids compelling.

Insight into what networks are trying to solve right now

Our embedded relationships mean we know the live challenges — not just the published ones — giving your research a head start.

Clear routes from low-TRL research to real network trials

We map the path from where your research is today to a funded, deployed network trial — and then walk it with you.

How we work with innovators

Our structured support across the innovation lifecycle has successfully taken ideas from concept to real-world deployment across multiple utilities in GB.

01

Idea scouting

We support innovators to identify cutting-edge research and novel technologies that are relevant to GB utilities.

02

Ideation workshops

We lead workshops between utilities and innovators to brainstorm and define low-TRL solutions aligned to real network problems.

03

Business case translation

We structure ideas into viable, scalable and actionable products for utilities that align with regulatory priorities.

04

Innovation funding applications

We secure funding by translating ideas into strong, coherent innovation bids — at no cost to the innovator — for each stage of the project.

05

Project delivery

We don't step back after funding. We stay on to support delivery execution through to deployment, handling regulatory, commercial and reporting requirements on your behalf.

Demonstrated Impact

Two sectors. Every GB network. Measurable results.

Trusted across GB energy and water — with a strong track record of successful innovation funding applications under both the Ofgem and Ofwat regimes.

£35m+Innovation funding secured for clients across energy and water
25+Ofwat water innovation bids developed across all streams
75+SMEs and start-ups supported and helped to scale
All GBElectricity, gas and water utilities connected to and worked with
Energy Networks
National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED)
SP Energy Networks (SPEN)
Northern Powergrid
Electricity North West (ENWL)
Cadent Gas Networks
National Gas Transmission (NGT)
NESO (National Energy System Operator)
Water Companies
United Utilities
Severn Trent
Anglian Water
Northumbrian Water
Yorkshire Water
Welsh Water
Scottish Water
…and 5+ more across GB
Innovation Challenges

The challenges shaping GB networks.

The defined innovation challenges across energy and water — the targets, the real intent behind each, and where we help innovators connect. We'll keep building this out over time.

Ofgem's Strategic Innovation Fund — £500m for 2026–2031 — has shifted decisively toward deployment over learning: ideas must map to a defined challenge and a credible route to business-as-usual. We help innovators do exactly that.

01

Industrial & Business Connection Acceleration

Major industrial sites energised within 6 months by 2033.
Turning grids into enablers for industrial policy.
02

Faster Build & Maintenance

50% faster, 20% cheaper build and maintenance by 2035.
Cutting the cost of a ~£trillion buildout.
03

Domestic Plug-and-Play

Instant plug-and-play connection of domestic energy devices by 2032.
Removing networks from the customer critical path.
04

Eliminating Outages

Near-zero interruptions via autonomous islanding by 2038.
Shifting from asset protection to service continuity.
05

Decentralised Balancing

Autonomous local balancing at every network level by 2034.
Moving control to local, AI-driven operation.

Working on something relevant?

We map research to the right challenge, build the consortium and lead the bid — at no cost. Start a conversation.

The Ofwat innovation landscape spans over £740m across three funds, with the same shift toward deployment at scale. We've secured £20m+ for clients across 25+ Ofwat bids — and we map your innovation to the right challenge and stream.

01

Leakage & Network Resilience

Net zero leakage by 2050, with a 50% reduction by 2030.
Moving from reactive repair to predictive, sensor-led detection.
02

Net Zero & Carbon Reduction

Net zero operational carbon across the sector by 2030.
Decarbonising treatment, pumping and sludge through circular recovery.
03

Storm Overflows & Water Quality

Eliminate harm from storm overflows by 2035; continuous monitoring by 2030.
Moving to real-time predictive management and nature-based solutions.
04

Asset Health & Digital Infrastructure

Near-zero unplanned asset failures via remote monitoring by 2035.
Shifting from time-based to condition-based maintenance with IoT and digital twins.
05

Customer & Community Value

Demand management and resilient supply for all customers by 2030.
Turning billing into an active demand partnership.

Working on something relevant?

We secure the water-company lead, build the consortium and write the Ofwat bid — at no cost. Start a conversation.
Get In Touch

Start a conversation.

We are actively looking to connect leading academic research and innovative technology with live network problems. If you are working on solutions relevant to any of the SIF challenges, or have a network innovation, infrastructure or strategic advisory need, we would welcome a conversation.

DirectorImran Abdulla
LocationLondon, United Kingdom