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A former Formula One chief technical officer and an ex-Downing Street chief of staff have been selected to sit on Centrica’s advisory board for its new research and innovation venture.
The Energised Futures start-up will focus on bringing new innovations to market that boost customers’ control over their energy, enhance grid security and help to accelerate the decarbonisation of UK homes.
The organisation’s first project will see it working as the lead organisation with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on the Interoperable Residential Energy Flexibility project where they will test and feed back on a proposed standard for Demand Side Response in the UK.
The start-up will also be participating in the Big Data for Next Generation Energy consortium, which brings together 35 sector leaders to tackle data management challenges for the energy sector.
Ben Krikler, Centrica’s director of research and innovation, will be leading the venture – supported by a nine-strong advisory board which includes former Formula One chief technical officer Pat Symonds and ex-Downing Street chief of staff Dan Rosenfield.
Other industry leaders on the board include:
- Anouka Dhadda, former head of energy and net zero at 10 Downing Street
- Peter Childs, founding head of the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London
- Catherine O’Kelly, British Gas managing director
- Ulrika Wising, Centrica Power managing director
- Darren Miles, Centrica chief information officer
- Cengiz Ucbenli, Centrica chief data analytics officer
- Alan McLaughlin, Centrica corporate affairs director
Symonds said: “The race to net zero is not something any one person or organisation can achieve alone. Dedicated companies like Energised Futures will bring together the right people to help the UK decarbonise.
“I look forward to bringing to the table my technical and engineering expertise as well as my experience of bringing complex projects to fruition rapidly to help shape these pioneering research initiatives.”
Rosenfield – who now acts as managing director at Centrica New Business & Net Zero – added: “The energy landscape is rapidly evolving and we are committed to helping our customers navigate this while making energy simple and affordable. Through this new venture, we will be investing in research and innovation that will help everyone on the road to net zero.
“Transformation of the energy market can’t happen in isolation. It’s crucial that we collaborate as an industry to implement best practices, learnings and technology.
“In doing this, we will develop solutions to achieve a more connected and flexible future of energy in the UK.”
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