Innovation Programmes

We have a structured open approach where we engage with the wider innovation eco-system to capture and prioritise ideas from a range of different innovation and digital programmes. Effective management of our innovation programmes ensures that we generate a continuous flow of innovative business proposals for assessment and development into commercial business propositions in line with our Innovation process.

Our key Innovation and Digital Programmes

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Exploring new horizons in energy innovation

Leveraging innovation to accelerate our net-zero journey is a key priority for us at ESB. This is the role of our Emerging Technology and Research and Development (R&D) team, who have just published the 2024 edition of their annual Emerging Technology Insights report.

Eco Partner Platform

Our Eco Partner Platform is ESB's home for external collaboration and innovation in the digital space

A red car with an electric vehicle charging plug in it

Business Unit Innovation

All Business Units (BU) in ESB have an innovation mandate and innovation projects are managed and delivered within each area.

Digital Accelerator

The Digital Accelerator at ESB is a dedicated team focused on developing new business opportunities and solving challenges through deploying digital solutions in an agile manner.

An office with two people in background with table and chairs with a sign that says 'ESB Incubator workshop Space.'

X_Site

X_Site is ESB’s business incubator – providing relevant supports for cross value chain ventures to enable innovative projects to develop, grow and scale.

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X_Potential

The X_Potential programme enables all staff across ESB to submit innovative ideas that have the potential to develop into future businesses for the organisation.

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Innovation Academy

ESB's Innovation Academy is designed to build competency in customer centric innovation across the group to support delivery of our ambitious Net Zero strategy.

Free Electrons Programme: The Global Energy Start-up Accelerator

The Free Electrons Programme is one of the world's largest energy start-up accelerators. Co-founded by ESB in 2017, it serves as a dynamic platform where we and our global utility partners engage with the most innovative energy start-ups. The programme's core lies in fostering collaborative efforts to deliver pilot projects, deploy products commercially and secure investment opportunities – all while promoting learning and development.

Emerging Technology and R&D

We engage with external stakeholders, technology developers and consultants, energy start-ups, research organisations and staff across ESB to analyse and assess emerging technologies across power generation, flexibility, cross - energy and cross industry.