Launching IM4Power

In November 2024, information management (IM) specialists and strategic leaders at all of the GB transmission operators (TOs) united whith a core group of major supply chain partners and a senior representative from Nima – a not-for-profit organisation which has helped coordinate the development of a range of other IM best practice networks across industries – to discuss the possible scope and ambition of a new initiative to promote best practice and standardisation in the power sector.

Setting the scene at the meeting, SSEN Transmission’s BIM manager Scott Pritchard explained: “We’ve got to deliver more assets at one time than we’ve ever done. We’ve got to do it faster than we’ve ever done. We need to mobilise at group of delivery partners with mixed capabilities – and yeah, we’ve never manged a supply chain of this scale before.

“Delivering 2030 – it relies on a huge amount of information being exchanged in a consistent manner across a multitude of parties. We’ve got to design and construct digital assets in a consistent manner, across multiple sites, cross all our networks – and do it in a way that gears up for effective management of those assets in the future.”

Driving home the need for a structured approach to developing common industry standards for IM, Pritchard continued: “We're all on IM journeys - we've all chosen to embrace BIM over the past few years…We're all moving in the same direction, and implementing similar information requirements with our suppliers…it makes sense now to lean into that even further and this is where an industry network could really help us.”

To allow the IM4Power network to establish and mature quickly, Pritchard – and colleagues from National Grid and Scottish Power – went on the explain they are keen to drawn on lessons from other sectors which have already trod a similar path. Nima – a volunteer-led organisation which champions practical approached to information management and the exploitation of “purpose-driven data” has supported the launch and growth of a gamut of industry-specific best practice networks, from IM4Legal to BIM4Rail and BIM4Housing.

Learning from BIM4Water

It's the BIM4Water network though, that the TOs feel has the greatest potential to be largely replicated in the power sector and make a significant positive impact and BIM leaders from the across the TOs have already reached out to members of the BIM4Water community, and Nima, for guidance and access to resources which could help accelerate the establishment of the IM4Power group.

One BIM4Water asset which attendees at this network launch meeting noted could be especially useful to replicate – with some adjustments – is its development roadmap which sets out clear goals and expectations for the various BIM4Water working groups, and the community as a whole, over a five-year period. The road map begins with foundational actions, such as securing support and understanding from the industry regulator, putting in place suitable governance and reporting arrangements as well as establishing a high-level appreciation of barriers and enablers to digital transformation in the sector. It builds towards the creation of common data and product libraries for owner operators and their supply chain alongside a rolling agenda for education and refreshing of standards – including in relation to emerging technologies.

As well as establishing a clear roadmap, attendees at this meeting agreed that a clear set of priority interest areas should be set up for IM4Power as soon as possible. This should lead to the creation of an industry working group with varied representation from the supply chain as well as the TOs.

A preliminary discussion about what these focus areas should be suggested the following:

“Attendees at this meeting agreed that a clear set of priority interest areas should be set up for IM4Power as soon as possible.”
  • Standardising information requirements – primarily a task of the TOs. Updates expected in early 2025
  • Creation of a model library for enhanced asset design
  • Establish a common asset information exchange format (similar to the COBie standard used in public sector construction projects)
  • Upskilling and education – inducting more stakeholders into the principles of good information management
  • Sustainability – how to integrate environmental outcomes into design and build processes
  • Safety
  • Advancing asset design – including accelerated adoption of modern methods of construction
  • Contractual considerations – addressing intellectual property and data ownership concerns between collaborating partners

Concentrating effort and resources on the first four of these focus areas was likely agreed to be a necessity in the first year of the IM4Power initiative, given the adjacent challenge of getting appropriate governance and accountability systems in place at the same time. Overwhelmingly, the feeling in the room was that it is more important to target and deliver a few meaningful steps in the initial phase of the IM4Power initiative, than it is to set out a broad ranging change agenda, little of which gains traction. This would result in loss of confidence from supply chain partners, it was suggested.

“Faster and more efficient data and information sharing means we can accelerate project delivery, supporting the delivery of Scotland and the UK’s net zero targets and helping deliver on the Clean Power 2030 Mission.”

Supply chain support

This said, support for the IM4Power ambition from supply chain attendees was strong. Speaking to Utility Week after the event, one senior representative from a major equipment manufacturer and construction partner, said that the initiative is “very welcome”.

They added: “This something many in the supply chain have been asking for. To date the underlying standards for asset design are very different from company to company – it goes well beyond nuance or situational design considerations. A more consistent approach will allow us all to accelerate the design and delivery process. Everyone’s talking about hitting CP30. We need a common methodology for getting there.”

To avoid disappointing expectations that have now been raised in the supply chain, the same individual urged the TOs expand supply chain engagement in IM4Power and to move quickly to set out an initial framework for a common IM approach.

“It doesn’t need to be perfect straight away,” they emphasised. “But we need a foundational standard so that we have something tangible to start collaborating around.”

Driving home the urgency of this issue, they said: “This baseline needs to be in place before 2026. After that, delivery will be in flight at scale and the opportunity to realise efficiency through standardisation will diminish. This is the defining year for getting the approach to delivering clean transmission infrastructure right.”

To help keep IM4Power ambitions on track, Utility Week has committed to proving regular progress reports for the initiative, including an update on publication of a the TOs first joint information requirements standard. This is expected in the Spring of 2025.

Summing up the TO’s commitment to making IM4Power work, Alex Stuart, head of data management at SSEN Transmission told Utility Week: “Common interoperable data standards across Transmission Owners helps unlock faster and more efficient data and information sharing with our supply chain partners, reducing the time they need to interpret and respond to different requirements.

“Faster and more efficient data and information sharing means we can accelerate project delivery, supporting the delivery of Scotland and the UK’s net zero targets and helping deliver on the Clean Power 2030 Mission.”

Seconding this view, Jonathan Wilson, digital product manager at National Grid Electricity Transmission added: “For National Grid this forum will make a difference to help those who really matter, end consumers. By collaboratively working across transmission owners, delivery partners and UK supply chains we can share knowledge to help build a better energy infrastructure for the future”

Concluding remarks

Lisa Jones, lead account executive, critical infrastructure, EMEA, Autodesk comments on the significance of unified industry support for improving information management as the power sector squares up to a once in a generation challenge.

Delivering clean power by 2030 is a hugely complex challenge that will require infrastructure owners and the supply chain to mobilise and work together towards a shared vision. At Autodesk, we understand that improving and standardising approaches to information management across critical infrastructure projects will play a critical role in decarbonising the grid and enabling Net Zero infrastructure delivery. That’s why we are fully behind the launch of IM4Power and are committed to working alongside the nation’s three transmission operators, industry partners and suppliers across the power sector to establish best practice standards.

By taking a digital approach to project delivery, infrastructure owners can improve information management and find efficiencies through standardisation and time savings. Cloud-based collaboration unifies people, data and workflows, unlocking a number of benefits right across the supply chain in a secure common data environment.

Centralising data ensures that stakeholders can access the right information, in the right format, when they need it. By integrating live, multi-discipline data, such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), cost, and schedule tracking in a centralised source of truth, teams can design and iterate in parallel and manage projects efficiently while protecting intellectual property, controlling versions, and resolving issues.

This connected, interoperable environment opens the door to automation, multi-discipline workflows, and global connectivity, leading to better quality, greater productivity, and on-time and on-budget.

Digital project delivery connects people, data, and processes in a shared, cloud-based common data environment (CDE), enabling teams to aggregate models and centralise data at every project stage. Through a CDE, stakeholders can come together to plan, design, build, and operate critical infrastructure projects through the integration of live, multi-discipline data. This helps remove data silos and communication barriers and means that all team members can access the right information in the right format when they need it.

At Autodesk we welcome industry-wide commitment to standardise information management approaches, improve collaboration and learn proactively across projects. We are proud to support the Charter for Digitally Enabled Infrastructure Delivery and provide our energy clients with the digital tools and solutions they need to drive positive change in information management best practices right across the supply chain.

The sharing of data is just one of the key enablers of the energy transition – from a delivery schedule and lead time on key deliverables within the supply chain, to a design standard or specification, this commitment towards digital collaboration supports a step change in the way that infrastructure projects are designed and delivered; ultimately for faster, smarter delivery of net zero infrastructure.

"By taking a digital approach to project delivery, infrastructure owners can improve information management and find efficiencies through standardisation and time savings."

Autodesk is ready to be a partner in the global push towards a net-zero energy future. Speak to us to find out how the smart use of data can improve project efficiency, collaboration, and quality across your teams – and ultimately help to drive innovation and improve capital project outcomes.

Learn more at: autodesk.com/uk-critical-infrastructure

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