Network Insights Programme successfully delivered by SSEN Transmission and Capula, unlocking real-time Operational Technology data

Capula and SSEN Transmission have delivered a significant improvement in operational insights, transforming how operational data is accessed and used across the transmission network operator’s business.

The new companywide solution, built on the AVEVA™ PI System™, is now live and provides a unified, real‑time view of network performance, improving situational awareness and strengthening decision‑making, whilst supporting SSEN Transmission’s wider digitalisation objectives.

Delivered during Ofgem’s RIIO-T2 price control period*, the opportunity was identified by SSEN Transmission’s Digital Team, who approached Capula to explore how a new solution could be designed and delivered.

Following a highly collaborative discovery and design process, the new AVEVA™ PI System™ has transformed how SSEN Transmission accesses and uses data – bringing together previously siloed or manually retrieved information into a single, near real-time operational view. The result is a new, more intuitive way of working that enhances situational awareness and enables faster, better informed decision-making across control rooms, field teams and asset management.

The new capability was delivered as part of SSEN Transmission’s Network Insights Programme and responds to the growing challenge across asset intensive industries: fragmented operational data and legacy system silos that restrict cross business visibility, decision-making and limit an organisation’s ability to drive efficiency or scale digital innovation. By tackling these structural barriers head-on, the programme creates the conditions for more connected operations, better use of real-time data and a more modern, insight driven way of working.

Capula built on the requirements developed by SSEN Transmission’s Digital Team and internal business users to establish a unified asset and data framework. Through stakeholder workshops and user‑story‑driven design, the team created a blueprint that ensures the solution met both current and future needs, including evolving operational requirements and new device data streams.

This collaborative approach informed the technical architecture built on AVEVA™ PI Vision™, drawing data from systems such as PowerOn, PI Data Archive, PI AF, weather APIs and other operational systems. With real-time data covering asset condition, network performance and equipment status, operational teams can now access the following system benefits:

• Enhanced situational awareness for control rooms, engineering teams and field operatives
• Better identification of emerging operational risks
• Instant access to trusted, real‑time OT data
• Improved consistency and quality across operational datasets
• Monitoring more than 3700 assets e.g. circuits, substations and components, utilising circa 60,000 PI Tags

The Network Insights Programme enables secure integration, governance and reuse of operational data across the enterprise. It establishes a unified, trusted data layer that advances SSEN Transmission’s digitalisation ambitions, improving access for analytics and asset management. By aligning Operational Technology with modern IT governance, cyber security and architecture, the solution is built to scale, interoperate and support the next wave of AI‑driven digital transformation.

Stuart Knight, Director of Operations at SSEN Transmission, said: “This project was identified by our teams as an opportunity to bring key network asset information together into a more complete and accurate single solution. We approached Capula to explore the options, and we worked closely together from the outset to design and deliver a system that is already improving how we access and use operational data.

The solution is now embedded in our day-to-day operations and has become an essential tool for both our operational engineering teams and senior management. Capula’s insight during the discovery phase, combined with the expertise of our Digital and Control Centre Teams, enabled us to deliver a digital solution that provides the level of situational awareness needed to operate a resilient transmission network.”

Commenting on the project, Richard Stone, Capula’s Head of Digital, said: “This project demonstrates the real value of unlocking operational data previously trapped in legacy and siloed systems. Our Smart Digital Operations methodology ensures that digitalisation is driven by user needs, and we’re proud to support SSEN Transmission in creating a safer, smarter and more data‑driven electricity network.”

Sebastian Ory, Vice President, EMEA Partner Ecosystem, AVEVA stated: “This achievement shows how the AVEVA™ PI System™ and our collaboration with Capula support power companies on their digitalisation journey.

For SSEN Transmission, Capula’s expertise transformed a visualisation upgrade into improved situational awareness, faster decision making, and real-time network insight. The project marks a key milestone, underpinned by a data platform designed to enable future technologies and an AI ready transmission network.”

This project lays the foundation to enable expanded risk-based digital innovation, supporting SSEN Transmission’s commitments around asset visibility, predictive analytics and improved operational performance. Future phases may include expanded risk‑based reporting, enhanced replay capabilities and advanced analytics layers – further strengthening the organisation’s position as it moves toward becoming a fully digitised, AI‑ready electricity transmission network.

*RIIO‑T2 was Ofgem’s five‑year framework (2021–2026) linking funding for electricity transmission to performance, innovation and value for money