ScottishPower Energy Networks and its consortium partners have successfully secured funding via Ofgem's Network Innovation Competition (NIC) for its VISOR project to improve real-time monitoring of the UK electricity transmission network.

The project, 'Visualisation of Real Time System Dynamics using Enhanced Monitoring', (VISOR) has been developed in collaboration with National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) Transmission and the University of Manchester.

Using an innovative monitoring technique, VISOR will provide new insights into the behaviour of the UK Transmission system and will be invaluable in understanding the impact and effectiveness of other new technologies that will be deployed on the Transmission system over the coming years.

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The project will also develop tools to enable National Grid as the Great Britain System Operator (GBSO) to maximise the economic dispatch of renewable generation.

Jim Sutherland, Director of Engineering at SP Energy Networks said: "We are delighted to receive funding to further develop this technology. Pioneering projects like VISOR will pave the way for smarter transmission networks monitoring and control, facilitating the UK's transition to a low carbon economy."

This is first wave of innovation funding under the RIIO-T1 investment framework which will see SP Energy Networks invest £2.6bn pounds over an eight-year period from 2013 to 2021. The investment, which is said to be the most significant upgrade in the Transmission network for more than 70 years, will create up to 1,500 new jobs in the ScottishPower Transmission licence area.

(JP/IT)