UK Power Networks’ Distribution System Operator has released an open-source Python package to help researchers, energy businesses, flexibility providers, and analysts work more easily with electricity network data.
The toolkit, called ukpyn, provides a consistent route into datasets from UK Power Networks’ Open Data Portal. Users can discover, filter, combine, and analyse information including flexibility dispatches and power flow data without manually searching for files or writing separate code to connect to raw feeds.
Developed with researchers at the University of Birmingham through work connected to the Supergen Energy Networks Hub, the package is intended to reduce the preparation burden around open energy data. As distribution networks publish more operational information, the usefulness of that data increasingly depends on whether it can be handled in common analytical workflows.
Dr Jamie Bright, data science and development manager at UK Power Networks’ DSO, said: “Python is widely used across the energy sector for research, forecasting and modelling, but working with APIs and raw data can still be a real barrier for people trying to use open data in practice.
“This is about making our data more accessible to a wider range of users. Whether someone is just getting started or already working at an advanced level, the Python package helps them use our data more quickly, more consistently and with greater confidence.”
The package is available through Python’s packaging index and on GitHub, with tutorials, reference documents, and API guidance covering different levels of experience. Users can also raise issues, suggest examples, and contribute improvements, giving the library a route to evolve as datasets and use cases change.
Open network data is becoming more important as renewable generation, flexibility services, electric vehicle charging, and local energy planning place greater analytical pressure on distribution systems. A maintained Python client gives users a more standardised starting point for forecasting demand, analysing network behaviour, and testing research or commercial models against real distribution network information.
Dr Daniel Donaldson, assistant professor in the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham, said: “Too often, researchers spend more time preparing data than actually carrying out research. The DSO’s Python package helps remove that barrier, providing a faster and more practical way to start working with real network data.
“That not only speeds up research but also gives students valuable experience using the kinds of datasets and tools they are likely to encounter in industry.”
UK Power Networks says the package uses AI-supported update processes to respond to changes and new data on the Open Data Portal, helping maintain reliability as the underlying datasets evolve.
The ukpyn package can be explored on GitHub.
