The Energy Data Taskforce (EDTF) was commissioned by the UK Government, Ofgem and Innovate UK to develop an integrated data and digital strategy that helps unlock the opportunities of a modern, decarbonised, and decentralised Energy System for the benefit of consumers.

Chaired by Laura Sandys CBE and implemented by Energy Systems Catapult, the EDTF delivered a strategy for a ‘Modern, Digitalised Energy System’ centred around a set of key principles.

The EDTF team engaged with over 300 individuals throughout the energy sector and beyond to understand existing challenges, develop hypothesises and test recommendations.

EDTF presented five key recommendations to achieve a Modern, Digitalised Energy System based around the need to fill the data gaps and maximise the value of data, providing a strong foundation for the Digitalisation of the Energy System.

The Energy System Digitalisation Taskforce (EDiT) will continue by identifying the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation and provide clear direction and leadership to accelerate digital transformation of the sector. The Taskforce will deliver a set of actionable recommendations that sit at the intersection between policy, regulation, and innovation that span market design, digital architecture, and governance. The recommendations will draw on best practice from other sectors and countries to challenge the status quo and deliver the energy system transformation that we need to reach Net Zero.

To set the direction of travel for the EDiT, we have conducted a review of the EDTF recommendations to assess the progress made by the sector since they were launched in summer 2019. The original recommendations can be found here.

Key points

Energy Data Taskforce: Two Years On is a review of the EDTF recommendations, conducted through semi-structured interviews with members of the energy industry who are at the forefront of delivering the recommendations of EDTF.

This includes network operators, consultancies, SMEs, members of academia, government departments and trade bodies. The responses from the interviews were analysed and categorised into common themes. Generally, the most common points raised across multiple stakeholder interviews have been highlighted in each section, however, we have also included more niche points where a stakeholder made a particularly insightful point.

As part of the review, we also identified and assessed activities that have taken place since the launch of the taskforce recommendations. The list of projects has been compiled and is available here.

The review is presented by recommendation. Each recommendation has been allocated a red-amber-green rating which is based on rate of progress rather than outcome. This is accompanied by an overview of progress since the EDTF launched, a case study of a noteworthy activity and a set of recommendation updates that can maximise impact.