The Energy Networks Association (ENA) is improving access to energy networks’ data with the launch of the Energy Data Request Tool.
With this tool, requests can be submitted by anyone to any of the networks using a single form. Any time of network data can be requested, although this excludes personal data. Additionally, each energy network will continue to assess each request considering data privacy, security and confidentiality.
Types of data which can be requested include information about electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints in a certain area, how much flexibility is tendered in a particular location on the electricity network or where there is capacity to build a biomethane site, for example.
It is hoped that this new tool will help companies both in and out of the energy industry to make investment decisions more intelligently, supporting emerging markets such as EV chargepoints and green gas generators as well as helping new projects such as renewables sites to connect to the networks.
The data request form will also be used to gather insight into the volume of requests, their origin, the granularity of data requested and how the data will be used, which will inform future decisions to make more data available for use.
Standardisation and simplification has been a focus of the ENA as of late, having launched the Smarter Networks Portal – designed to make innovation more accessible and transparent – in May, as well as launching a standardised approach to flexibility for distribution network operators as part of its Open Networks Project in March.
“Providing more transparency of networks’ data is a big step forward as we begin to use data even more proactively to unlock net zero in the UK,” said Dan Clarke, head of innovation at the ENA.
