Lightleap

Energy Frontier, by Lightleap

The grid ideas taking shape around the world that GB hasn't adopted yet.

Every week, one idea. Some are already working at scale abroad. Some are just emerging. A few are moonshots. I look at each one calmly and honestly, and ask what would have to be true for it to work on Britain's electricity networks.

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Coming soon

First episode: Tuesday 17 November 2026

"Robots on the substation"

Robots are starting to inspect and work on electrical equipment in other countries. What can they actually do today, what is still a demo, and what would it take to see them on a British substation?

Remind me when it's out

Who it's for

  • Network innovation and engineering leads
  • Suppliers and start-ups building for the grid
  • Researchers and funders
  • Policy people and anyone who has to decide what's worth trying next

The format

  • A 20-minute episode every week, as a podcast and on YouTube. Most weeks it's a one-to-one conversation with a guest. About once a month, I go solo on a single idea.
  • A weekly newsletter, Notes from the Energy Frontier, with the idea, the evidence and the call.
  • A short LinkedIn post each week for people who want the headline.

Every episode ends with a clear call (ignore it, keep an eye on it, explore it or trial it) and a short list of what would have to be true.

The three lanes

  • Proven. Working at scale somewhere in the world, with results you can check. Why isn't it here yet?
  • Emerging. Real pilots and early customers, but not settled. What should GB watch for?
  • Moonshot. Early, ambitious and uncertain. If it works, what changes?

How I handle claims

  • Claims are attributed. If a company says its product does something, I write "the company says", not "it does".
  • Figures are dated and scoped. A number comes with where it came from, when, and what it actually measured.
  • Corrections are published. If I get something wrong, I fix it and say so on the episode page.
  • Independent. Energy Frontier is not sponsored.

Built something at the energy frontier? Come and talk about it.

I'm looking for engineers, founders, researchers and operators who have made an energy idea work, or are close to it. It's designed to be easy for you:

Suggest yourself or a guest Message James on LinkedIn

Email address: hello@lightleap.co.uk

  • 20 minutes, recorded remotely at a time that suits you.
  • Questions sent ahead, so there are no surprises.
  • You approve your quotes before anything is published.
  • You get a written article about your work that you can share, plus short video clips for your own channels.
  • Who it's for: energy leaders, engineers, suppliers and innovators in GB.

Your host

I'm James Daniel, an innovation consultant in the energy sector and the founder of Lightleap. I have more than 20 years in technology and digital transformation, including leading workplace technology at ITV and earlier work at Towers Watson. My work starts from one belief: understand the real problem and what's now possible, then choose the tool. On Energy Frontier I scan the world for grid ideas that are working or emerging, and ask what it would take to use them here, without the hype.

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Notes from the Energy Frontier

One idea a week, the evidence behind it, and a straight answer on whether it's worth your attention. Free.