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Innovation, investment and collaboration – the key to building our future clean energy network
In April, I’ll be joining thousands of others taking part in the Innovation Zero World Congress, where I look forward to talking about the work that SSEN Transmission is doing to upgrade the high-voltage electricity transmission system in the north of Scotland, and the important role that innovation is playing in this effort.
The session* that I’ll be participating in will focus on the role of research, investment and collaboration in helping deliver our future clean energy network, and at SSEN Transmission this work is already underway in earnest.
Our Pathway to 2030 programme is delivering a mix of new onshore and subsea projects which aim to increase the amount of renewable energy connected to the grid, primarily via offshore wind where Scotland has abundant resources.
These investments are critical to support UK and Scottish energy security and clean power targets, supporting the UK Government’s Clean Power by 2030 ambition and reducing our exposure to volatile global wholesale markets through the deployment of clean, homegrown power. They will also deliver significant local benefits in the form of jobs, investment, community benefit funding and other opportunities delivered as a legacy of our projects.
We have recently published our business plan for Ofgem's next price control period, known as RIIO-T3, representing a potential total £31.7bn investment covering the period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031. Our plan is underpinned by three ambitious goals which include accelerating the pathway to net zero, ensuring a safe, reliable, and resilient network, and facilitating a fair and sustainable transition. These align closely with the UK Government’s Clean Power Plan 2030, positioning us to play a pivotal role in supporting Scotland’s long-term aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 and the UK’s target by 2050.
Central to this transition is the urgent need for modernisation of our power systems, which must evolve to accommodate a significant increase in renewable energy sources. A considerable share of the anticipated reductions by 2050 will rely on innovations that are still in developmental stages, so there is a need to place a high priority on maturing these innovations, while fostering a strong culture of innovation across our organisation.
We’ve been on an exciting innovation journey over the past year, successfully completing five projects and adding eight new projects to our current innovation portfolio of 38 projects covering the RIIO-T2 price control period.
Overall, we anticipate our current portfolio has the potential to generate upwards of £190 million in benefits by the end of RIIO-T3 period, 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.
Our portfolio of innovation projects include grid-enhancing technologies such as the use of Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) equipment on our overhead lines, which will provide close to real-time monitoring of conditions to assess potential capacity increases for delivering more renewable energy to the grid.
Our current trials of this technology on a 45km stretch of our overhead line circuit means we currently have the largest DLR network of any transmission operator in the UK. This places us at the forefront of the development of technology that has the potential to add significant capacity to the grid, reducing the need for new transmission lines and lowering costs for consumers by avoiding unnecessary constraint payments as renewable energy grows on the network.
In a similar fashion, our REVISE project aims to enhance grid capacity by updating the environmental parameters used to calculate overhead line ratings, which are based on the maximum allowable temperature which vary notably across the UK. We’re challenging this historic calculation process which currently uses environmental data captured in the 1980s, by developing a new process using the latest location-specific climate data that can allow smaller and less costly overhead lines to be viable for a larger number of schemes – thereby alleviating constraints on renewable generation. Better still, achieving circuit rating increases can be done with little or no physical works required.
Moving from overhead line technologies to our substation network, we have been at the forefront in adopting technologies that are improving operational efficiency while meeting the company’s own net zero ambitions.
To take one example, the deployment of a robot at our high-voltage direct current (HVDC) switching station at Blackhillock near Keith is helping us monitor vital equipment via a series of cameras and sensors including state-of-the-art visual, thermal, and acoustic imaging.
Developed by tech company Ross Robotics, the EXTRM MK4.1 – otherwise known as ‘Haggis’ - is designed to monitor and inspect critical equipment inside energised HVDC convertor stations that are only accessible to staff during planned outages. Alongside remote monitoring, the robot can help limit the possibility of unplanned outages and disruption to the transmission network through proactive maintenance planning from data collected inside the energised HVDC halls. The robot’s new home at Blackhillock marks the first time such technology has been used on the electricity transmission network in Scotland.
Meanwhile, our adoption of SF6-free technologies at our substations exemplifies our commitment to decarbonisation, phasing out the use of this powerful greenhouse gas that has been a mainstay in electrical switchgear for decades.
Last year, in collaboration with Hitachi Energy, we announced the deployment of the world’s first SF6-free 420 kV air-insulated switchgear circuit breakers at our Connagill substation upgrade project in Sutherland. This groundbreaking initiative is testament to our leadership in adopting environmentally friendly technologies, having been the world’s first transmission network operator to be accredited by the Science Based Target initiative for our carbon reduction targets which are consistent with net zero.
In all of these innovation projects, collaboration was central to our success, involving multiple business functions and academic and industry partnerships that contributed extensive knowledge and expertise to support project delivery. Recognising that we cannot achieve our objectives in isolation, we are committed to fostering collaborative partnerships with industry leaders, academia, and innovators across sectors.
Coupled with this collaboration is the need for continued investment to meet the rapid growth of our network, and that is why we are seeking a substantial increase in Network Innovation Allowance funding from Ofgem as part of our RIIO-T3 business plan, building on the progress we have made in the RIIO-T2 period.
By leveraging collaboration and investment, we can continue to deliver innovations that offer significant benefits and consumer value, building a sustainable energy landscape that meets the needs of homes and businesses across GB and achieves a greener, more resilient energy future.
Alan Ritchie, Senior Innovation Manager, SSEN Transmission
*Alan will be taking part in the session "Scaling Solutions for the Future: Accelerating Clean Tech Innovation", which takes place at the Energy Forum on Wednesday, April 30, from 14.55 – 15.35.
Further information on the innovation projects mentioned in this article is available by clicking the links below.