We are building a modern, digitised energy system designed for a low carbon world. To meet the challenge we are making our operational data open, available and transparent. Together, we can use data to unlock benefits for all.
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Network Data
Data we collect from our physical assets and system operations. This includes information about work we do behind the scenes to keep the lights on.
Facilitating Net Zero
Data we share to facilitate the uptake of low carbon technologies.
Strategy & Innovation
Data that we gather from our innovation portfolio and other strategic projects.
DSO DashboardBETA
See live insights on our network power flows to further collaboration, transparency and data sharing in our industry.
We are building a modern, digitised energy system designed for a low carbon world. To meet the challenge we are making our operational data open, available and transparent. Together, we can use data to unlock benefits for all.
This page brings together our available data for the first time, covering three themes: facilitating Net Zero, improving the network and informing strategy. We’re taking a targeted approach, ensuring that the data is in line with the overarching goals of our customers and the wider industry.
A live power cut map that shows all the current power outages and areas with recently restored power. The map allows you to search a postcode to see if your area is affected by power cuts.
We publish our flexibility needs and locations every year.
We publish our flexibility tender reports here.
The Embedded Capacity Register (ECR) replaces the System-Wide Resource Register (SWRR). It has been developed to provide enhanced information to our electricity network stakeholders on Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and network requirements.
The LTDS provides developers with sufficient asset and network data, forecasts and commentary to carry out initial assessment of project feasibility.
Our Design Specification (G81) Technical Library contains technical information for Independent Connection Providers (ICPs) and Independent Distribution Networks Operators (IDNOs).
The network losses website is a clearing house for network losses-related research that UK Power Networks has undertaken over the last three years.
Our Distributed Generation (DG) map shows the approximate locations of our High Voltage (HV) and Extra High Voltage (EHV) assets in the East of England and the South East. Please note the data provided is indicative only, and you will need to create an account to view the map. There is no charge to do so. User Guide.
Coming Soon
We’re continuously working to improve the quality and transparency of our Open Data. Here’s what we’re gathering for the future.
The typical load profiles we see for our substations.
An innovative portal for Extra High Voltage (EHV) customers to register their assets and be notified of any planned outages. The project is due to be completed in summer 2020.
A list of the faults on our network in the past.
Location of our fleet vehicles and generators.
We’ve released three data packs about low carbon heating. This includes heat and energy efficiency uptake scenarios, data on domestic and non-domestic building stock and modelling outputs on the consumer and fuel poverty impact of low carbon heating
Our Distributed Generation (DG) map has many layers of information including the generation capacity and the connections enquiries we process in the regions. Please note the data provided is indicative only, and you’ll need to register to view. User Guide.
Substation capacity availability to connect EV chargers in London Town Centres.
Substation capacity available to connect EV chargers in all of UKPN areas.
As part of the Mayor of London’s Task Force, we have collected data on future hot spots on the low voltage (LV) network in London due to high uptake of electric vehicles.
Coming Soon
We’re continuously working to improve the quality and transparency of our Open Data. Here’s what we’re gathering for the future.
We are planning to expand our current EV constraint map to cover London, the South and South East of England.
A map showing the energy mix supplying each primary substation and the associated carbon footprint. We plan to build a highly-tuned model to gather and report real-time, reliable information.
Data that we gather from our innovation portfolio and other strategic projects.
We have worked with Element Energy to develop a range of uptake pathways for all of the key drives of electricity demand and generation. These different uptake pathways reflect the different assumptions around cost, customer acceptance and government policy that could affect the deployment of low-carbon technologies.
UK Power Networks has completed Low Carbon London, a £28m, 4 year innovation project to investigate the impact of a wide range of low carbon technologies on London’s electricity distribution network.
The award-wining Energywise project explored how DNOs can work collaboratively with energy suppliers and local trusted organisations to deliver appropriate services to communities of low income households who may be struggling with their energy bills.
The Smarter Network Storage (SNS) project featured a 6MW/10MWh storage solution comprising approximately 50,000 lithium-ion batteries. This technology has enabled UK Power Networks to manage electricity demand at peak times without building excess capacity.
Coming Soon
We’re continuously working to improve the quality and transparency of our Open Data. Here’s what we’re gathering for the future.
The world’s biggest trial of commercial Electric Vehicles. It will develop technical and commercial solutions to save customer costs (estimated to £207m savings by 2030) and enable the faster transition to electric for commercial fleets and private hire vehicle operators.
We are exploring the different business models and market mechanisms to deliver benefits from smart charging by designing new solutions that enable us to control the flow of power from the network into the vehicle’s battery.
The project will trial a revolutionary way of managing spare electricity network capacity that could save customers £271 million by 2030 and cut more than 448,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030.
A world-first trial to maximise network capacity to connect more renewable energy and storage technology in the South-East region.
Our DSO Dashboard, named for our transition from Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to Distribution System Operator (DSO), works by providing detailed, real-time data on multiple parts of our network. It’s launched in beta mode for now as we ask you to have your say and co-create the future of the dashboard with us.
About the dashboard
The DSO dashboard shows live data on each part of our network listed by Grid Supply Point (GSP). GSPs are the point at which the national transmission network, operated by National Grid, connects to the regional distribution network. It was developed using the open source platform Grafana. Using open source follows best-in-class data industry methods and means we can build the dashboard in the most efficient way possible.
The dashboard displays:
- Volumes of active and reactive power at each GSP and the trends over time
- How much power is flowing through UK Power Networks transformers as the power moves from high to lower voltage and into customers’ homes and businesses
- All of the power generators connected to the network and how much power they are producing at any one time
Our ultimate plan is to give progressively expand and built out the dashboard, adding more data streams and features based on user feedback. At the moment we have data from 9 GSPs with features including the total active and reactive power flows, voltage and total generation on our network. New features will be developed next year in collaboration with market participants and customers.
Watch our video below for an overview, or download the instructions as a pdf.
We want your input to help us co-design the dashboard.
We’ll add new functionalities and data streams depending on your needs
Who can use the dashboard?
Our dashboard is open to anyone without having to register. It provides a valuable
resource to help renewable energy firms users locate new developments by having a detailed picture of where existing wind, solar and battery plants are located and where there is additional capacity available on the network.
Academics too can use the bank of network data that will build up over time to test out theoretical models using real-world information, and the insights it offers will pave the way for innovative methods of opening up new capacity on the network.
What is a DSO?
Our role is changing fundamentally. We are converting from our traditional role of being a DNO to becoming a DSO, balancing an increasingly complex, interconnected and Net-Zero ready electricity network while maintaining focus on our core responsibility of safety, reliability and efficiency.
Today, we have more than 170,000 generation points on our electricity network, compared to less than 100 a decade ago, which means the electricity network is vastly more complex. As we move towards being a Distribution System Operator it is fundamental that we have a clear picture of exactly what is happening on the network in real time, and make that information available to all. Doing so will help us to stimulate collaboration and data sharing.
Our industry-leading Smart Grid development team are powering this transformation day-in, day-out at the business.
Want more information
about Open Data?
Get involved with our Feedback Forum and tell us how we can improve our approach to Open Data. Alternatively, get in touch at OpenData@ukpowernetworks.co.uk
Energy Data Taskforce recommendations
In June 2019 the Energy Data Taskforce, jointly commissioned by Government, Ofgem and Innovate UK, set out five key recommendations to modernise the UK’s energy system and drive towards a net zero carbon future. To build such a system we are making our operational data open and freely available to create a collaborative, DevOps-inspired industry hub. Together we can use data to unlock benefits for all.
We are currently collecting from millions of data points across our network and investing in powerful data analytics to maximise efficiency.
Government and Ofgem should direct the sector to adopt the principle of Digitalisation of the Energy System in the consumers’ interest, using their range of existing legislative and regulatory measures as appropriate, in line with the supporting principles of ‘New Data Needs’ ‘Continuous Improvement’ and ‘Digitalisation Strategies’.
We are:
Continuously engaging with our regulator and stakeholders across the board to ensure an open flow of communication. UK Power Networks has been on a journey of digitalisation since 2015, with a clear external commitment in 2017, where we published in full our plans to facilitate a smart grid for all.
Government and Ofgem should direct the sector to adopt the principle that Energy System Data should be Presumed Open, using their range of existing legislative and regulatory measures as appropriate, supported by requirements that data is ‘Discoverable, Searchable, Understandable’, with common ‘Structures, Interfaces and Standards’ and is ‘Secure and Resilient’.
We are:
Publishing our network and asset data freely on the web so it’s open and searchable to all. This page is designed to make it easier than ever to discover and search our data, with the aim of creating a DevOps-inspired industry hub.
A Data Catalogue should be established to provide visibility through standardised metadata of Energy System Datasets across Government, the regulator and industry. Government and Ofgem should mandate industry participation though regulatory and policy frameworks.
We are:
Continuously honing our approach to metadata and playing a key role in the Energy Networks Association to establish a standardised data catalogue.
An Asset Registration Strategy should be established to coordinate registration of energy assets, simplifying the experience for consumers through a user-friendly interface in order to increase registration compliance, improve the reliability of data and improve the efficiency of data collection.
We are:
As part of a pan DNO initiative through Open Networks- we have published connected assets over 1MW to provide increase transparency. However we did not stop there we have been collaborating with the Energy System Operator to build a blockchain-based register of assets that could become a standard to use by Distribution Network Operators and other energy stakeholders. In 2018 we also published our full policy for capturing, registering or amending asset data.
A unified Digital System Map of the Energy System should be established to increase visibility of the Energy System infrastructure and assets, enable optimisation of investment and inform the creation of new markets.
We are:
Investing in geospatial analytics tools and innovation projects to create detailed, high quality maps of our networks. We are also investing £41m in ED1 to install low voltage monitoring equipment to provide more digital visibility than ever before.
Open Data is about collaboration
Send us feedback to help us improve our website and further our digitised, low carbon future.
Visit our Open Data Feedback Forum here to view all of our feedback.
About our 2021 digitalisation strategy
Our plan to manage digital projects in a holistic, cohesive way.