SSEN Transmission secures £6.9 million to accelerate innovation across the UK electricity network

Haggis.jpgImage: Haggis the robot, part of the ODIN project that has been awarded SIF funding

SSEN Transmission has secured more than £6.9 million of innovation funding for four projects through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovate UK.

The programme is part of the energy networks price control system managed by the energy regulator Ofgem and supports innovative solutions that accelerate decarbonisation and enable the efficient integration of renewable energy into the UK’s energy network.

Since SIF was launched in 2021, SSEN Transmission has been awarded funding of £17.7 million, enabling the delivery of several projects providing new industry insight and developing new technologies to support the UK’s energy transition.

The SIF framework guides innovation through three competitive phases - Discovery, Alpha, and Beta - moving projects from early‑stage feasibility through to full solution development and demonstration.

The latest SIF project awards include:

  • £5.8 million – REVISE (Beta phase):  REVISE aims to deliver a more accurate, future‑ready approach for calculating overhead line ratings. Working with National Grid Electricity Transmission, SP Energy Networks, the National Energy System Operator, the Met Office, the University of Strathclyde and Energyline, the project will use high‑resolution weather data and advanced system‑modelling techniques to increase network capacity, reduce operating costs that can be passed back to consumers, and support smarter investment.
  • £455,450 – ODIN (Alpha phase):  In partnership with robotics specialist Ross Robotics, ODIN will advance the use of autonomous inspection and AI-driven analytics to optimise high‑voltage converter station asset management. Using live data gathered by autonomous High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) inspection robots, the project will develop targeted condition-based maintenance tools designed to minimise outages, extend asset life and improve overall network resilience.
  • £449,961 – HVDC Wind Connect (Alpha phase):  Delivered with WindGrid, the Carbon Trust and the National HVDC Centre, this project will advance the integration of offshore wind by developing and demonstrating new HVDC system approaches. This will assess innovations in system control and protection, modular offshore platform design and dynamic cable rating to simplify and reduce the costs of offshore wind connections.
  • £147,254 – SPRINT (Discovery phase):  SPRINT, in collaboration with SuperGrid Institute and the National HVDC Centre, will explore the feasibility and benefits of integrating Superconducting Fault Current Limiters (SFCLs) into HVDC networks. This technology has the potential to protect high‑value assets from damaging fault currents and enhance system stability across increasingly complex renewable‑led networks.

Alan Ritchie, Senior Manager of Innovation at SSEN Transmission said:

“Securing over £6.9 million through the latest SIF round is a significant vote of confidence in the innovative work happening across our business.

These projects reflect the ambition and collaboration needed to build a smarter, more resilient electricity network. By advancing new approaches in digital inspection, HVDC technologies and system planning, we’re not only unlocking capacity today – we’re laying the foundations for a cleaner, more secure energy system for decades to come.”