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Unclaimed
Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.
Grants

Network Innovation Allowance (NIA)

Status

Open continuously

No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.

Always open
Amount
£1,000,000

Each network licensee holds an annual NIA allowance and funds smaller innovation projects directly, commonly tens of thousands to around GBP 1 million.

Funder

Ofgem / GB energy network licensees

public · national

Deadline: Open all year — No central deadline - each licensee (National Grid, SSEN, UKPN, NGED, Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and others) runs its own rolling innovation intake.

Your odds
Not published

This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.

Effort
quick

Quick — mostly identity and bank details.

Who can apply

NIA is funding allocated to regulated energy network companies within their price control; innovators typically take part as project partners/suppliers of the network licensees (projects listed on the ENA Smarter Networks Portal).

Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · The Companies House number, explained

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/network-innovation-allowance-nia

"Energy companies receive limited funding for innovation projects as part of the energy network price control. This is called the Network Innovation Allowance (NIA)."

Last checked against the official page on 5 October 2026

Source: www.ofgem.gov.uk

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