The aims of the feasibility study are to establish the needs case, benefits, scope and costs of an energy system ‘digital spine’.

The Challenge

Delivering a smart, flexible energy system can improve the UK’s energy security and deliver Net Zero by 2050 at least cost to the consumer. In the UK’s first Energy Digitalisation Strategy published in 2021, the government set out how only a digitalised energy system can withstand the millions of new energy flows every second from low carbon technologies (such as heat pumps, solar, batteries, and electric vehicle charge points) connecting to the grid over the coming months and years ahead.

In January 2022, the Energy Digitalisation Taskforce published their report, including a proposal to create a ‘digital spine’ for the energy system in support of delivering interoperability across the sector.

The ‘digital spine’ is a concept of technical processes and defined governance roles and responsibilities that will allow the exchange of energy system data in a secure and interoperable manner.

The Innovation

Energy Systems Catapult, in partnership with Arup and the University of Bath, have been appointed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to carry out a six-month feasibility study to assess the viability of a ‘digital spine’ concept for the UK energy system.

The study aims to establish the needs case for an energy system ‘digital spine’ and its benefits to establishing a smart, flexible, decarbonised energy system and the data infrastructure required to deliver it.

The energy system digital spine feasibility study is a sub-programme of DESNZ’s Flexibility Innovation Programme which seeks to enable large-scale widespread electricity system flexibility through smart, flexible, secure, and accessible technologies and markets.

The study will involve comprehensive stakeholder identification and engagement throughout. It will aim to establish the potential scope of a digital spine, the data infrastructure required to deliver it, and the use cases as well as the governance of the spine.

Next steps

The energy system ‘digital spine’ feasibility study is split into 2 Phases over 6 months:

• Phase 1 – Scope and Stakeholder engagement
• Phase 2 – Feasibility and Delivery

Evidence provided as a result of the study, will inform regulation and innovation development in relation to potential future energy digitalisation requirements in the UK, in addition to contributing to policy development.