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A new report calls for higher standards in data sharing across the UK’s energy networks to improve its resilience and deliver better results for consumers and the environment – in line with recommendations made in the National Infrastructure Commission’s Data for the Public Good report.

The Energy System Data Taskforce has recommended five priorities action to modernise the UK energy system through better data management and sharing. Its report takes on board many of the recommendations in the Commission’s report Data for the Public Good, which called for new standards to encourage open data sharing to support the development of smart systems which can reduce the impact of disruptions and failures across the UK’s infrastructure network.

The Taskforce found that data optimisation and the wider digitisation of assets would help to optimise how existing energy infrastructure assets are used, promote better services for consumers, and make it easier for the UK’s energy generation to decarbonise and enable innovative new forms of generation and distribution.

Better data is also crucial in ensuring energy operators and distributors can better understand how their systems operate. It will boost their resilience in the face of disruptions, shocks and accidents and increased pressures resulting from climate change, something which the Commission is looking at as part of its wider Resilience Study.

Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt yesterday said:

“Data has the power to transform how the UK generates and uses energy, but to be effective, it needs to be shared as widely as possible.

“It’s positive the Taskforce has therefore accepted the Commission’s recommendations for improving data sharing, so that the UK can harness the benefits of smart infrastructure.”

The National Infrastructure Commission was represented on the steering board of the Taskforce by Sarah Hayes, who led the work on the Data for the Public Good report.