Trio of SSEN Transmission innovation projects secured through third Discovery round of Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund

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SSEN Transmission has been awarded nearly £400k through Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to kickstart three collaborative innovation projects. The projects will explore novel techniques to deliver a secure energy system for the future and accelerate connection times for bringing renewable generation onto the transmission network.

The SIF is an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and is designed to drive the innovation needed to transform gas and electricity networks for a low-carbon future. These projects are funded by network users and consumers under SIF.

SSEN Transmission’s latest projects – REVISE, BluePrint and SYSMET – have been successful in securing funding from the £450 million SIF funding pot that is available through the RIIO-2 price control period for network companies. These projects have been developed in close collaboration with 9 partners including academic institutes, energy networks, and industry organisations.

Starting on 1 March this year, the projects will now run for three months as part of the initial Discovery phase, providing feasibility studies on innovative solutions that will inform the future development of the energy system. On completion of the Discovery phase, projects will have the opportunity to progress into the Alpha and then Beta phases following successful selection from Ofgem to develop proof-of-concept and demonstrator projects, respectively.

Since the fund was launched in 2021, SSEN Transmission has progressed six innovative projects through the SIF phases, focused on whole energy systems, net zero and the energy transition, and optimised assets and practices.

Alan Ritchie, Innovation Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: “We’re thrilled to have secured the funding for three new projects in the latest Discovery round of the SIF competition. Innovation and collaboration are paramount to achieving the transition to a low-carbon economy. These projects are a great addition to our innovation portfolio, ensuring we are pushing the boundaries to deliver a safe and secure energy system built for future generations.”

Learn more about SSEN Transmission’s latest Discovery phase projects:

  • REVISE (Revisiting and Evaluating Environmental Inputs on Line Ratings)

To ensure transmission networks are maximising their current infrastructure for the transition to net zero, the REVISE project will be revisiting the calculation process for assigning overhead line ratings. This process currently uses historical environmental data captured in the 1980’s and does not take into consideration local/regional climate variations.

Improving industry understanding of line ratings, using up-to-date high-resolution weather data combined with the latest techniques for system modelling, will allow for improved targeted investment to ensure networks meet the demand for the connection of new renewables, securing a safer and greener future.

This project is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, National Grid Electricity Transmission, National Grid ESO, Met Office, Gilytics, and EnergyLine.

Watch the project video below or here: https://youtu.be/Q-rbTlmP0TU



  • BluePrint (Building Industry Collaboration and Methodologies for Developing Offshore Wind Behind Constraint)

Working alongside National Grid Electricity Transmission, National Grid ESO, and The Carbon Trust, the BluePrint project is looking to develop innovative and collaborative solutions to overcome the uncertainties of connecting offshore wind farms to areas of the UK network that are constrained.

The project will build on National Grid ESO’s Network Holistic Design, aiming to better understand how the future network will be delivered and to accelerate connection times for bringing renewable energy onto the transmission network across the UK to reach net zero targets.

Watch the project video below or here: https://youtu.be/ox7__z2Dqwg



  • SYSMET (System Strength Measurement and Evaluation)

The shift from fossil fuels to new sources of renewable power such as wind, solar, and battery storage presents challenges in ensuring network stability due to fluctuations in levels of generation. To secure a net-zero grid, network operators need to monitor system strength conditions to implement mitigation measures. At present, neither the requirements for system strength monitoring nor the possible hardware and digital solutions are well defined.

SYSMET is bringing together leading experts from SSEN Transmission, National Grid Electricity Transmission, UK Power Networks, and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to create a pathway for implementing innovative tools that provide a comprehensive insight into system strength.

Watch the project video below or here: Project SYSMET - YouTube