Cash has been found to fund a special robot to inspect power systems!
SSEN Transmission has secured nearly £300,000 in funding, to advance two innovative projects, aimed at supporting a more resilient electricity network aligned with net zero targets.
It includes £149,612 for the ODIN project, which uses autonomous robots to inspect High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) halls.
Haggis the robot
ODIN, developed with tech firm Ross Robotics, builds on the deployment of an autonomous robot named EXTRM MK4.1 – nicknamed ‘Haggis’ by local schoolchildren – at the Blackhillock HVDC station in Aberdeenshire.
The new funding will help develop AI and machine learning tools to interpret the robot’s data, enabling smarter fault detection and asset management.
A further £139,663 was awarded to the RAPID project, which explores new methods to improve route design for overhead transmission lines.
Working alongside other operators and the National Energy Systems Operator, RAPID aims to create a standardised design approach to enhance stakeholder trust and streamline project development.
The funding comes from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Alan Ritchie, Senior Innovation Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: “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.”
He added, “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.”
These initiatives are part of SSEN’s broader commitment to building a sustainable and efficient electricity network across northern Scotland.
