Our Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) Projects
Ofgem’s Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) is a set amount that each RIIO network licensee receives as part of their price control allowance. The NIA provides limited funding to RIIO network licensees to fund smaller technical, commercial, or operational projects directly related to the licensees’ network that have the potential to deliver financial benefits to the licensee and its customers.
Learn more about our NIA projects by clicking on the project titles below.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: July 2021 – March 2026
Strategy Themes: Net zero and the energy system transition
Project Partners: The National HVDC Centre, University of StrathclydeThis project aims to investigate how effective and reliable new Protection and Control equipment is on a future electricity network, which has even more renewable generation and power electronic equipment, via a combination of network simulation and open-loop device trials.
It is also the aspiration to determine new tests and validation processes for the Protection and Control equipment, in the future transmission system environment of low fault currents. Research would also be conducted into the shape and structure of new Protection and Control operating processes and protocols to help accommodate the transition of the network towards net-zero.
The scope of this project is to simulate a future electrical network where the fault current spike is marginal but prolonged and evaluate how present P&C products function and respond. Based upon the findings it will determine if a P&C solution can be further developed to address the future network issue.
The present mitigation measure for areas of the network that may be exposed to lower levels of fault current presently being investigated is a device called a Synchronous Condenser. A Synchronous Condenser can replicate a traditional fossil fuel power source and in the event of a fault it will respond with a very large, sudden, single bolt of current. A Synchronous Condenser also has associated challenges which need to be addressed before it could be used on the transmission system, but it is estimated that such a device to install would be £15million.
This project is addressing the challenges associated with areas of the network that may be exposed to lower levels of fault current via P&C products, which are more commonly procured and installed for around £200k. If this project can evidence that P&C products have the potential to be developed, build a simulation that can test future P&C products in a lower-level fault current environment and identify the changes that need to be made to existing P&C policies and procedures then this starts to open up an alternative solution to a Synchronous Condenser at a fraction of the cost.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: January 2022 – November 2024
Strategy Themes: Net zero and the energy system transition
Project Partners: PLPC, Energyline, NorpowerSteel alternatives to the wood poles used for trident wood pole construction are required to provide an equivalent solution for the construction of non-resilient overhead lines (OHLs) at altitudes above 300m, where wood poles are impractical, and to provide an alternative supply chain to address the long lead times and creosote obsolescence risk associated with wood poles.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2 - Completed
Project Timeline: May 2022 – July 2023
Strategy Themes: Network improvements and system operability
Project Partners: Manitoba, National Grid, SP Energy Networks, National Grid ESOContinuation of NIA SHET 0032 TOTEM, to complete the development and associated validation of a full-scale model of the GB Transmission System in electromagnetic transient (EMT) PSCAD simulation software.
The GB power system is rapidly evolving as conventional synchronous generation is decommissioned and ever greater levels of renewable sources are connected leading to a much lower level of system inertia and lower short circuit levels. At the same time there are increasing numbers of HVDC links and Flexible AC Transmission systems (FACTs) devices being connected in close proximity in parts of the system. The potential for adverse control interactions between these devices is rising and needs careful consideration within the context of a potentially weaker GB system.
Conventional phasor-based RMS simulation tools have limitations in studying weak, low inertia systems due to the level of detail that is represented. A move to developing more detailed electromagnetic transient (EMT) based models which will address these concerns is proposed as a solution and is seen as a key way of de-risking the integration of the technologies described above.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: May 2022 – December 2025
Strategy Themes: Network improvements and system operability
Project Partner: Cardiff UniversityAs part of Network for Net Zero strategy, SSEN transmission are migrating to alternative gases which have lower carbon footprint than sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) for Gas Insulated Systems (GIS) within the transmission network. However, there is industry wide knowledge gap in the key features related to condition monitoring of the alternative gases which may result in an inability to correctly manage future GIS that use the alternative gases.
This research will provide full understanding of the condition monitoring requirements of the alternative gases to allow engineers to identify an incipient failure and carry out repairs, mitigating potential lost revenue or regulatory fines.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: March 2022 - March 2024
Strategy Themes: Network improvements and system operability
Project Partner: WSPThis project will explore how more dynamic “probabilistic” modelling could be used by Transmission network planners to account for complex factors which could yield more efficient development and connection processes. This would allow the connection of more renewable generation and flexibility assets and seeks to enable more efficient operation of the electricity system. The main deliverable of this project is a prototype probabilistic planning toolkit and study process to apply to connection studies.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: August 2022 – February 2024
Strategy Themes: Optimised assets and practices
Project Partner: The Met OfficeThe current values of radial ice accretion defined in BS EN 50341-2-9:2017 are regarded as conservative with little basis in modern Meteorological science, especially as applied in the North of Scotland. Application of these values may lead to overdesign of overhead lines being designed and constructed to enable the energy system transition.
This project will develop a new ice accretion model and integrate it with existing global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models with high granularity topological and orographical parameters. It will thereafter use this composite model with extreme value analysis techniques to derive new values for radial ice accretion, which reflect modern meteorological practice.
The new values will be compared with BS EN 50341-2-9:2017 to assess the potential benefits of adopting a new design practice.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: December 2022 – December 2024
Strategy Themes: Optimised assets and practices
Project Partners: National Grid, University of DundeeThis project will produce learning on improved designs for OHL tower foundations, including a better understanding of the optimal edge profile/roughness, and how this can reduce the materials/space required. It will also provide an understanding of any associated cost savings and benefits. Preliminary work estimates that the cost savings generated by the more efficient design, per tower with pad and column foundations, could be between 5 – 10%. Average Transmission circuits have hundreds of towers which means that the average saving per new circuit could be in excess of £1million.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: February 2023 – April 2024
Strategy Themes: Optimised assets and practices
Project Partners: The Met OfficeTo understand the impact of corrosion on galvanised steel assets in the North of Scotland, SSEN Transmission utilise the Galvanisers Association corrosion map. This map provides the atmospheric corrosion rate of hot dip galvanizing on a 10km grid, which is applied to estimate the average life of assets. The science behind how the map has been developed is not fully referenced and is not understood to consider topography or industrial pollution. In addition, the 10km grid does not provide adequate resolution to make informed decisions on specific assets/asset locations. This lack of granularity results in overly conservative technical decision making.
The project will develop a new corrosion map which will be compared against the Galvanisers Association map to assess potential benefits of adopting new design and lifecycle practices.
Benefits
The project will assess whether, by providing more accurate and relevant weather and environmental data, a more efficient and cost-effective process could be used to design, construct, and maintain SSEN Transmission network assets in the North of Scotland. Reducing the resultant costs associated with renewable energy transmission could assist in the SSEN Transmission RIIO-T2 business plan goal to transport the renewable electricity that powers 10 million homes, contribute to national Net-Zero targets, and provide benefit to
customers. -
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: June 2023 - October 2024
Strategy Themes: Optimised assets and practices
Project Partner: Ross RoboticsHigh Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) valve halls are inaccessible to staff due to the hazardous environment. Monitoring of the equipment is currently performed using static cameras however these do not provide full visibility of equipment, particularly monitoring gauges and floor level machines. Because of these restrictions condition monitoring and maintenance is performed on a periodic timeframe (annually) and requires a shutdown of the system.
This project proposes to install an autonomous robot within the confined space of a HVDC valve hall to monitor equipment status and need for maintenance. This innovation would allow for any faults or need for maintenance to be identified without causing unplanned downtime of the system and allowing for engineers to perform condition-based maintenance.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: July 2023 – August 2025
Strategy Themes: Optimised assets and practices
Project Partners: VerescenceSevere pollution and harsh weather are one of the main issues for electric utilities causing flashovers and unplanned line outages. Currently, there is no pollution measurement information across the network.
This project will use insulator leakage current monitoring sensors to capture and share information remotely. This will help characterise the risk of equipment degradation due to pollution and assist with designing and maintaining Overhead Lines (OHLs) in pollution-high-risk areas of the network. With this, early design mitigation and maintenance procedures can be carried out to prevent faults due to flashovers.
-
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: March 2024 - August 2025
Strategy Themes: Optimised assets and practices
Project Partner: i4am Asset ManagementCurrently, when operators are on site, they conduct inspections of components in our substations using thermal cameras. Operators use cameras to identify ‘points of interest’ using prior knowledge of substations to predict expected faults and capture images accordingly. There is no prescribed technique or structure to conducting inspections and the approach varies from each site. This leads to random, unstructured data collection with no data value and does not allow for repeatability.
The proposed solution is to develop a structured, easily repeatable approach to on-site data collection which builds upon present Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 (ESQC) requirements and documentation. This would be established by building a visual aid routine (scripting) on the operative’s handheld device to be followed when undertaking site surveys. -
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: March 2024 - September 2025
Strategy Themes: Net zero and the energy system transition
Project Partner: Energyline, Norpower, PLPC, Allied InsulatorsThere is an increasing need to connect renewable developments with increasing electrical capacity and geographic density. Existing low-profile, overhead lines lack sufficient capacity to accommodate large individual or aggregated electrical capacity. The only current alternatives carry a stepwise increase in construction costs due to their complexity and need for engineered access during construction.
This project follows on from our NIA 132kV Low Profile Steel Poles project. The proposed 220kV low-profile designs will provide a lower-cost solution that will assist the energy system transition by reducing the costs of large or aggregated renewable energy connections. -
Funding Phase: NIA RIIO-2
Project Timeline: May 2024 – September 2024
Strategy Themes: Net zero and the energy system transition
Project Partner: Manitoba Hydro International (MHI)This project is focused on the continuing development of innovative tools and resources for power system modelling and analysis. Following TOTEM and TOTEM Extension there is a model that can mimic large-volume power electronics and enable the formulation of mitigation measures to future-proof the GB network associated with the energy transition. TOTEM 2 will incorporate additional capabilities.