Smart Energy Data Service

At a glance

Secure access to data from power networks, electric vehicles and energy meters

Research-ready and customised datasets, combining smart energy data with contextual data

Tackling critical policy challenges around Net Zero, energy security and fairness

Making it easier to decide where to invest in energy infrastructure by providing clear evidence

The Smart Energy Data Service

Transforming our understanding of the UK’s energy system through integrated data from power networks, electric vehicles, and energy meters alongside socioeconomic indicators.

This integrated view of energy patterns and their social context will help tackle critical policy challenges around Net Zero, energy security and fairness.

The Smart Energy Data Service, SENSE will support new research into complex human and economic systems, enabling evidence-based decisions about energy infrastructure investment, reducing disparities in urban and rural areas, and improving energy efficiency in schools, hospitals and other public buildings.

Data focus

Comprehensive power network data across distribution and consumption points
Electric vehicle usage patterns and charging infrastructure use
Smart meter and automated meter readings (AMR) revealing building energy consumption
Built environment statistics linked to energy efficiency metrics

What’s coming?

Processed datasets integrating energy networks, meters, and demographic information
Specialised energy data platform designed for research accessibility
PhD secondment opportunities with industry and academic partners
Analytical tools supporting Net Zero transition planning and energy justice analysis

Mapping EV charging needs and network demands

SENSE will unlock the power of smart data to enable equitable access to EV charging infrastructure. It will combine smart EV journey data with energy network data and the distribution of existing EV public charge points.

SENSE will enable researchers to investigate demands from domestic, private hire and non-domestic vehicles and the timing of demand on hourly, daily, weekly and seasonal basis. In combination with social demographic data, this understanding will facilitate research with real social value.

The team

Alongside leadership from Energy Systems Catapult and the University of Oxford, SENSE will be delivered in collaboration with partners including the Counting Lab, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, University of Reading, UCL and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Hartree Centre.

SENSE is led by Dr Richard Snape from the Energy Systems Catapult and Professor Peter Grindrod from the University of Oxford.

More data services

Find out more