Project Trident
Future-proofing the gas market's data infrastructure.
What is Project Trident?
Project Trident refers to a significant project of work to modernise UK Link, the platform we use to connect the complex information, technology and communications systems that are essential to the successful competitive retail gas market in Britain.
Learn all about Xoserve's role as the Central Data Service Provider (CDSP) and how UK Link facilitates the associated obligations in our Introduction to Project Trident.
Support for the existing version of UK Link expires in 2027 and it will need to be upgraded or replaced with a new solution – one which will meet both current and future needs.
Whilst there is the option to extend support for the current UK Link until 2030, there is the risk of unsupported components, and we must consider current limitations and opportunities of UK Link functionality, including:
- Data processing capabilities
- Customisation and complex architecture
- Supply chain and organisational optimisation
The modernisation of the infrastructure will present opportunities to make service delivery more efficient and economical. But as with any large-scale technological transformation project, timing and smart planning will be crucial.
There is more information in our Project Trident introduction materials on the right hand side of this page.
Why Project Trident?
The name Trident captures the three elements of UK Link that will need upgrading or replacing.
- Core - a bespoke configuration of SAP ISU ECC6 and SAP BW
- VCO - a collection of systems that validate, convert, and orchestrate data in and out of Core, maintaining data quality and integrity
- Customer Edge – customer-facing systems that DSC parties use daily to engage with Xoserve and Core
We need to decide when and how to transition each of these elements to a new version.
Xoserve will lead the process of rebuilding or re-platforming the system, considering if and when to introduce competition to the process.
The present and future of Project Trident
We began our initial research in July 2024 and estimate that Project Trident will run to 2028.
Our focus until July 2025 will be developing the Full Business Case (FBC), procuring the most suitable solution against a set of critical success factors, broken into five themes:
- Strategic fit and business need
- Potential value for money
- Affordability
- Achievability
- Capacity and capability
The new solution will need to be long-lived and supported until at least 2040 or beyond.
This means it will need to meet both current and future needs and consider unknowns. These can range from the introduction of blending into the current gas network, to changes to the gas code that may require delivery during the next five years.
Funding and governance
More information about how Project Trident is funded is available in our BP25 documentation.
The current governance of Project Trident is available in the following information pack.
Project Trident documents
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Xoserve Project Trident Strategic Outline Case (SOC)Using the HM Treasury Green Book approach for business case development, we have now published our Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for Project Trident. This will be followed by the Outline Business Case (OBC) in early 2025, before we publish our Full Business Case (FBC) in July 2025.
PDF, Last Updated 27/09/2024, 2.8 MB
Project Trident common queries
The ultimate decision-makers for Project Trident will be the Xoserve Board. Further details can be found on our dedicated Funding, governance and ownership webpage.
This will be through the usual channels such as the Contract Management Committee (CoMC) as well as further confidential briefings if/when required.
Where Project Trident draws on resources, particularly human resources, it is important that we have created required capacity within Xoserve and its third-party providers to ensure that business as usual activities remain a focus and fully resourced.
We have therefore included costs for this to be achieved. As we move into later stages of design, build and implementation, we think it will become more important that the usual levels of change activities are slowed to free up further capacity for Xoserve, third party providers and customers alike.
Questions and answers
We're compiling a full list of questions and answers throughout the project.
You can download the latest version of this list below.
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Project Trident query logView this document to read the common queries we've received since the start of Project Trident.
PDF, Last Updated 6/12/2024, 147.0 KB
If you have any questions that you want us to answer please email us via communications@xoserve.com.
Get involved with Project Trident
We know that our customers and stakeholders want assurance that they are receiving value for money and to see clear reasons for investment.
We will provide a robust investment proposal through the HM Treasury Green Book approach, as well as seeking agreement on critical success factors for the future solution.
In accordance with our principles of transparency and trust, we also want to provide visibility of upcoming milestones and options for how our customers and stakeholders might want to engage with Project Trident.
We will facilitate customer engagement sessions to capture feedback at all stages of the project.
If you have early feedback or would like to suggest other forms of engagement, please email us via communications@xoserve.com.
Related links
Subscribe for updates
Click on this link to subscribe to our regular Project Trident communications.
Project Trident introduction materials
Read and download our useful Project Trident introduction materials.