Northern Powergrid, the company that powers everyday life for 8 million people across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, is supporting the Energy Networks Association (ENA) in the launch of a new service to help people access energy networks’ data.
The new Energy Data Request Tool supports a more modern, digital energy system by providing greater transparency of electricity and gas networks’ data, helping companies in and out of the energy industry to make investment decisions more intelligently. It can support emerging markets, like electric vehicle charge points and green gas generators, and help new renewables sites connect to the network.
A single request form can be used by anyone to request any type of network data, apart from personal data, from all, some or just one of the 11 energy networks in Great Britain, including Northern Powergrid. Each energy network will continue to responsibly assess each request considering data privacy, security and confidentiality to ensure appropriate and proportional data-sharing.
Types of data which can be requested using the single form include:
- Information about electric vehicle charge points in a certain area.
- How much flexibility is tendered in a particular location on the electricity network.
- Where there is capacity to build a biomethane site.
The standardised, centralised data request form will gather invaluable 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.
Network investment in modernising energy data is essential for continued decarbonisation of the energy system and delivery of Net Zero emissions. Taking a whole energy systems approach to data and digitalisation is critical to achieving a modern, digital energy system that works for everyone as we race toward net zero.
Dan Clarke, Head of Innovation at Energy Networks Association which represents the UK and Ireland’s gas and electricity network operators said: “The new Energy Data Request Tool will help customers to harness the power of data to make better-informed investment decisions, like the location for new green gas sites and electric vehicle charge points. 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.”
Paul Fitton, Head of Information Services at Northern Powergrid said: “This single touch-point for data requests will help ensure data from across the networks is discoverable, searchable and understandable. The Energy Data Request Tool will help achieve a more modern, digitalised energy system by creating greater data visibility and supports our future plans for increasing the amount of open data we provide.”
Northern Powergrid is currently undertaking its largest ever engagement programme to build its 2023-28 business plan and is encouraging customers and stakeholders to review the network operator’s upcoming proposals which will shape the energy future of the region and the electricity network that will power their lives.