GB’s Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks opens up energy data

British network operator Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is opening up distribution and other energy data to support the drive to net zero.

As part of its ‘open networks’ approach, SSEN has launched two portals to enable wider access to data – its Near Real-time Data Access (NeRDA) portal with constantly updated network usage data and a new distribution data portal as a repository of distribution energy data.

The NeRDA portal, which is in beta release and accompanied with application programming interfaces (APIs), is aimed to support the delivery of a flexible network with the growth of distributed low carbon technologies such as solar PV, electric vehicles and heat pumps.

The data is taken in from a number of sources, including SCADA PowerOn, installed low voltage monitoring equipment, load model forecasting tool, connectivity model and the company’s Long Term Development Statement.

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Features stated of the data include the granularity from the EHV and HV networks down to the LV level and its availability automatically updated via a ‘full API’, in addition to download options.

With this, opportunities for the creation of flexible markets are envisaged, such as helping to identify the best locations to invest flexible resources and connect faster.

Nigel Bessant, head of Network Operations at SSEN, says the NeRDA’s public release opens up new levels of transparency with detailed, granular information about how the networks are being used in near real-time.

“As we decarbonise heat and transport and move towards low carbon technologies, knowing real-time demand on the electricity network will help to enable new opportunities for low carbon technologies and flexibility.”

Distribution energy data

The distribution data portal, which was developed in partnership with UK net zero data specialist Icebreaker One, provides a growing repository of data assets and information including visualisations and published insights on (at the time of writing) asset management, network capacity and flexibility, outage management and projects and works.

With such data, users could, for example, make decisions on the location of new on-street electric vehicle chargers and the accelerated rollout of heat pumps and solar panels should be facilitated.

With the support of the Microsoft Azure platform, SSEN intends to automate data uploads directly from the source, ensuring the latest data is always available.

User feedback on data quality and metrics also will be actively sought, with a strong emphasis on providing information to support the use of SSEN’s data.

Michael Glass, data governance and information manager for SSEN Distribution, who was integral in developing the data portal, says its launch sees the company making its first steps into open data sharing, with a focus on delivering the value that can be achieved in a collaborative data exchange platform.

“By empowering stakeholders with vital information, this innovative data portal will play a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, and ultimately driving the UK closer to achieving its sustainability goals.”