UKPN unveils electricity network data portal
A new platform which provides unparalleled access to one of the biggest datasets on the UK’s electricity network, has been unveiled by UK Power Networks to boost Net Zero progress.
The Open Data online portal brings together thousands of datasets from a vast range of sources to provide visibility of what assets the network operator has, where they are, what capacity they have and how they are utilised.
The platform, available from their website, will help everyone from local authorities to electric vehicle chargepoint installers, renewable energy generators, flexibility providers and anyone with an interest in low carbon technology come up with new solutions to save money and benefit customers.
It includes details of nearly 1,000 large-scale energy generation sites connected across London, the South East and East of England in in a range of maps and tables.
The website also features more nearly than 2,000 data records of smaller Low Carbon Technology connections – like EV chargers and household solar panels. Users will be able to layer different datasets to create bespoke maps. Other network information on the site includes the Long-Term Development Statement, Earthing and Soil data.
More than 140 industry specialists with an interest in open data have collaborated to help identify how network data could be useful to others, for example:
- helping local authorities to create data-driven plans for reaching Net Zero emissions
- supporting low carbon technology operators such as electric vehicle chargepoint installers, renewable energy generators and battery storage operators who can now save time and money in locating their equipment
- enabling greater collaboration between local authorities, housing developers, the electricity distribution network and national transmission network
- researchers, academics, and industry analysts will also be able to use the platform to create fresh data models and forecasts.
UK Power Networks is the first network operator in the UK to publish all its datasets via a portal covered by a standard open data licence – meaning anyone can use them. The datasets will have Application Programming Interfaces so users can automatically connect to data sources and get live updates.
Matt Webb, head of enterprise data at UK Power Networks, said: “We are taking the effort away from end users in accessing and consuming network and asset data, and in the process fostering a community of open data users who can share and potentially collaborate together. The industry has told us there is huge demand for an advanced, accessible and scalable open data platform. This is just the start, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow the platform.”
Merlin Hyman, CEO at Regen, said: “We believe open data will be at the heart of the transition to net zero energy – enabling innovators to develop services that will support a smarter and more flexible power system. We welcome UK Power Networks launch of its new open data portal as a significant step in opening up detailed data on how the electricity distribution system works to everyone and enabling the development of a smarter net zero energy system from the bottom up.”
Giles Dring, head of delivery at ODI Leeds, said: “ODI Leeds is delighted to be working with UK Power Networks on their open data journey. As longstanding proponents of the benefits of openness for innovation, we’re excited to see transformational results of this work. The data portal is critical to realising these benefits, enabling discovery and cataloguing of the datasets.”
Jean-Marc Lazard, CEO at ODS, said: “We are very proud of UK Power Networks’ announcement today to launch its open data portal. In less than two months, UK Power Networks delivered on its ambition to improve transparency and become a reference data provider for the energy market, while engaging local authorities and communities in the transition to net zero.
“As the leading All-in-One SaaS platform for data sharing, we have helped key European energy players publish data and are very impressed to see how UKPN accelerates this initiative. Its collaborative approach internally and with external stakeholders certainly represents a key to success.”
“Stuart Briggs, account manager at OnGen said: “UK Power Networks’ open data portal is an innovative platform that we are keen to support and help develop. Having accessible grid constraint data greatly helps the process of assessing the feasibility of installing on-site renewables and energy storage solutions thus supporting the decision-making processes towards the journey to Net Zero.”
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