Energy Systems Catapult has launched a smart data service, providing researchers, energy system innovators and policymakers with secure access to newly licensed datasets for the first time. The data will shed new light on energy-use trends, helping to overcome pressing societal challenges by accelerating efforts to improve the planning of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and reducing energy waste in non-domestic buildings.
Smart Energy Data Service (SENSE), led by Energy Systems Catapult and the University of Oxford, is designed to make accessing, linking and using energy data easier, faster and more impactful.
Smart data is generated whenever we engage with the digital world – from the smart meters and energy appliances in our homes to the phones in our pockets as we move, shop and navigate daily life.
When responsibly linked – connecting energy consumption with mobility patterns, fuel poverty indicators and other contextual signals – this data becomes a powerful lens for understanding complex social challenges, and for informing the technologies and services that innovators develop to address them.
Dr Richard Snape, director of the data service, said: “SENSE brings together unique, hard-to-access datasets into a single platform, removing the complexity of linking data sources so researchers can focus on generating real insight. Its cutting-edge lakehouse architecture will transform what’s possible for research using smart energy data – and its potential to address the clean energy challenges facing society.”
SENSE, previously available to a small cohort of researchers, is now open to anyone doing research. It’s expected to be especially useful for academics, SMEs, energy experts, consultants and policymakers focused on cleaner energy systems.
SENSE has been designed to bridge critical data gaps that currently hinder decarbonisation efforts, unlocking benefits for society and the economy. It’s focused on two critical use cases:
The data is publicly accessed through the SENSE website. Users self-serve by creating a login that provides direct access to open datasets which can be downloaded or explored within the SENSE platform. There are also safeguarded datasets that users can request access to.
The data within SENSE has been made publicly available through a Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) grant, giving researchers efficient access to datasets that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Available datasets include:
The official launch of SENSE is taking place at Oxford University today (16 March). The meeting brings together a wide group of stakeholders from across the smart data, energy industry, and research communities for a day of insight, innovation, and previews of what’s next for energy data in the UK.
At the meeting, early users from University College London (UCL), University of Birmingham, University of Oxford and Counting Lab (data processing experts) will share their initial insights from their early access to the data and outline what comes next.
Phil Grünewald, Co-investigator on the SENSE project and Lecturer in Engineering at the University of Oxford, said: “SENSE provides an exciting opportunity for UK energy researchers to access a wide range of powerful datasets with unprecedented ease and security.
“It’s exciting to see such a strong partnership with a common goal: making high quality data accessible to more researchers. In the face of our pressing energy research challenges, I cannot think of a more valuable resource for the UK research community.”
Peter Grindrod CBE, Co-director of SENSE and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, said: “Without the efficacy of data, every data science and AI idea is just speculative. Energy consumption behaviour is changing fast as novel technologies become available to store, shift, return and demand energy from an “active” network enabled by proactive suppliers. Now, our aim is to enable UK R&D to be in the lead globally in accessing and experimenting with the resulting data, making our SENSE programme a catalyst and a magnet for innovators and bright minds.”
SENSE has been created in collaboration with academic institutions including University of Oxford, UCL, University of Reading, University of Bristol, Leeds Beckett University, University of Leeds and University of Birmingham.
The Hartree Centre, part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), developed the platform that hosts the data. Counting Lab has worked with industry partners committed to furthering the innovative project’s ability to share data.
SENSE is one part of the UK’s wider national strategy to leverage data and technology for a sustainable future1. By providing a centralised platform, SENSE will streamline access to anonymised, high-quality data, supporting researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders in addressing key decarbonisation challenges.
The programme objectives align with the UK government’s ambitious AI Opportunities Action Plan, showcasing how data innovation can address complex challenges in achieving Net Zero.
1. Smart Energy Data Service (SENSE) is one of six data centres delivered through Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK). SDR UK is the UK’s national programme for smart data research, backed by a £60 million investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Its mission is to unlock the power of smart data to help solve today’s most pressing social and economic challenges. For more information, visit:
Enquiries
Adam Duckett
Communications Officer
Energy Systems Catapult
Email: Adam.Duckett@es.catapult.org.uk
About Energy Systems Catapult
Energy Systems Catapult is an independent research and technology organisation. The Catapult’s mission is to accelerate Net Zero energy innovation.
Launched in 2015 by Innovate UK, the Catapult has built a team of more than 250 people, with a range of technical, engineering, consumer, commercial, incubation, digital, and policy expertise. The Catapult draws on sector-leading test facilities, modelling tools, and data collected from its back catalogue of more than 500 research projects.
The Catapult uses that ‘whole energy’ system capability to support innovative companies – small and large – to test, trial and scale new products and services. Impact comes when those innovators attract new customers, new investment, and new grants so they can thrive in the future energy system.
Based in Birmingham, Energy Systems Catapult is part of a network of nine world-leading technology and innovation centres, established by Innovate UK. The Catapult Network fosters collaboration between industry, government, research organisations, academia, and many others to transform great ideas into valuable products and services.