The Catapult is committed to evaluating the impact of its work. In line with our Impact Evaluation Framework, we are taking a theory-based approach to evaluation. Within the overall frame of theory-based impact evaluation methods, we are following a contribution analysis approach, taking into account the complex nature of our interventions and how their impacts are generated.

In this we report we examine the impact the Catapult has had since 2017 on open data sharing and access.

This evaluation demonstrates that:

• The Catapult’s role – in particular in the Energy Data and Energy Digitalisation Taskforces (claim 1)– and the Taskforces’ influence on policy makers (claim 3) and the industry (claim 4), through increased understanding (claim 2) led to significant investment (claim 6) to make more data openly available (claim 5);
• That open data is now being widely used: by academic researchers (claim 7); by developers of new Net Zero energy projects; and by innovators, supported and accelerated by the Catapult, who are starting to develop new products and services enabled by the data (claim 8).

We firmly believe that open data will accelerate Net Zero energy innovation, enable more effective decisions and help drive investment into the future energy system. Our evaluation work in this area aims to test the degree to which this has occurred, and further understand the Catapult’s impact in driving these outcomes.