30 Oct 2024

Innovative approaches to flood and coastal resilience taken by the Environment Agency, local authorities and local partners are helping to unlock significant wider social, economic and environmental benefits for people, places, and wildlife. The Environment Agency has published its mid-programme report for its £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes. The report details what has been […]

02 Oct 2024

Ofwat has published a new report setting out the key learnings from a range of water-saving projects supported by the Innovation Fund. The projects covered include Supporting customers in vulnerable circumstances Warer4all Water literacy Fair water Hydro-powered concentric smart meter Water efficiency in faith and diverse communities Enabling smart water communities Project zero Through the […]

18 Sep 2024

The Royal Academy of Engineering has launched its new Green Future Fellowships. It will award £150 million over the next five years to 50 of the best ideas and scalable technologies essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for adapting to the impacts of climate change. The Green Future Fellowships will provide innovators, scientists, researchers […]

12 Sep 2024

Ofwat has opened its fifth Water Breakthrough Challenge innovation fund competition. Water companies in partnership with innovators can apply for funding for projects to address the sector’s most pressing challenges, including climate resilience, enhancing the environment and finding better ways to meet customer expectations. Up to £40 million will be awarded through two streams: Catalyst […]

10 Jul 2024

The Environment Agency is exploring the feasibility of using cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning technology to digitise, read and interpret 10,000 years’ worth of hydrological data on river levels and flows. The risk of flooding and drought within England is a priority area of focus for the Environment Agency (EA) which strives to protect […]

05 Jun 2024

Scottish Water and United Utilities are working with tech group ChangeMaker3D and Manchester Metropolitan University to produce 3D concrete printed infrastructure components. The £1.7 million project is backed by the Ofwat Innovation Fund and can print assets in a matter of hours compared to the several days it would take using traditional methods, achieving carbon […]

22 May 2024

Ofwat has announced the latest winners of Breakthrough Challenge innovation funding. The 17 winning projects will share £40mn, are led by water companies and seek to address strategic challenges including on climate change, leakage and operations. The winners include: Developing a market-based approach to deliver SuDS through street works Local Regeneration of Granular Activated Carbon […]

13 Mar 2024

Ofwat is consulting on a £400m Innovation Fund for AMP8. The plan is to keep the annual Water Breakthrough Challenge ‘Catalyst’ and ‘Transform’ competitions for water companies, but to boost the value to £250m. The remaining £150m would be split between two rounds of the Water Discovery Challenge for external innovators; a new stream for strategic […]