SSEN Transmission has been awarded nearly £300,000 in combined funding for two innovation projects designed to help deliver a resilient electricity network capable of supporting net-zero targets. The funding comes from the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovate UK.

The ODIN (Operational Diagnostic Interpretation Network) project secured £149,612. In partnership with technology company Ross Robotics, ODIN aims to develop automated methods, using artificial intelligence and machine learning, to interpret and diagnose data gathered by robots operating within High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter halls. This follows SSEN Transmission's deployment last year of an autonomous inspection robot, nicknamed 'Haggis', at its Blackhillock HVDC switching station in Aberdeenshire – a first for Scotland. The SIF funding will enable the development of techniques to analyse data captured by robots like Haggis, aiming to uncover new insights into HVDC asset behaviour, improve operational efficiency, and support network reliability.

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A second project, RAPID (Route Alignment Process Innovation Developments), received £139,663. This initiative will investigate ways to enhance the route design process for new overhead line projects, aligning with recommendations made in the 2023 report by the UK Government's Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser. Working alongside other transmission operators and the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO), the RAPID project will identify and prioritise innovations to standardise the route design process, thereby aiming to build greater stakeholder confidence in route selection.

Alan Ritchie, Senior Innovation Manager at SSEN Transmission, welcomed the funding: "We're delighted to receive these awards from the Strategic Innovation Fund, which will help take our ODIN and RAPID projects to the next level of development. Innovation plays a key role in our work to upgrade the transmission network in the north of Scotland, and we've been on an exciting innovation journey over the past year – with ODIN and RAPID among an extensive portfolio of sector-leading projects."

He added: "Overall, we anticipate our current portfolio has the potential to generate upwards of £190 million in benefits by the end of the 2026-31 price control period (RIIO-T3), demonstrating our substantial contributions to the sector and our dedication to using innovation to deliver a sustainable, resilient, and efficient electricity network for the future."

These innovation projects are key components of SSEN Transmission's efforts to modernise the electricity network infrastructure required to achieve net-zero emissions targets.