Open Energy, the new energy data-sharing service to help the UK get to net zero, has launched its first official beta test.
Open Energy aims to make energy data sharing radically easier, giving users access to energy data held by thousands of organisations and institutions across the UK, and simplifying the complex process of licenses and security checks.
The service is being developed by non-profit Icebreaker One, which aims to make data work harder to get to net zero. It has received backing from the UK Government and support from Ofgem.
Open Energy is currently being tested by eight organisations, including Quantenergy and DTSQUARED. It will roll out across the UK from autumn 2021.
Organisations can apply to join the beta test at energydata.org.uk/join-us-as-a-beta-tester
Open Energy will provide a powerful search engine to make it easy to find published energy data, and a governance service, which will automate the legal and security checks needed to share data that can’t be published openly.
Gavin Starks, CEO and founder of Icebreaker One, said: “We are bringing the energy industry together to understand their data needs and to deliver a world-class operational service that makes it easy to search, access, and securely share energy data.
“Right now, it’s too difficult to find and use the essential energy data needed to plan our clean energy future, to unlock innovation and efficiencies in business. Access to data is a major obstacle in our path to net zero, and we’re aiming to remove it. This will help save organisations money across the sector and enable them to build our energy future.
“Testing Open Energy with real, innovative businesses is a major milestone in our journey to making data work harder to deliver net zero.”
Aneysha Minocha, founder of Quantenergy, an organisation participating in the beta test, said: “Open Energy is vital for the energy sector if we are to meet our net zero ambition. Data sits at the heart of our low-carbon, digital future. As an innovator, Open Energy addresses a key friction point, which is the time and effort that goes into licensing and accessing data. It’s been a pleasure to be testing the services at the start of this immensely important journey.“
Alex Arnold, data consultant at DTSQUARED, an organisation participating in the beta test, said: “Open Energy will mean we can help our clients to publish open and more importantly, sensitive datasets. The direct result will be more diverse datasets available for all, allowing us to make data work harder as we collectively move towards the UK’s goal of net zero by 2050. The rapid progress being made means an end to lengthy negotiations over data licensing and authentication for both open and sensitive datasets, allowing us to focus on helping our clients fully leverage the Power of Data.”