Energising innovation: Unveiling the impact of open energy data across industries

From revolutionising energy management systems to encouraging sustainable practices, open energy data can act as a catalyst for creative solutions. This applies to several different industries, including finance, technology, and urban planning – all of which can use this wealth of information to optimise operations and meet sustainability goals. 

What is open energy data?

Open energy data refers to high-value energy datasets that are actionable and discoverable by government staff, researchers, industry, and the public. In other words, these meticulously curated datasets can serve as a dynamic bridge between sectors working towards a sustainable energy future.

For instance, open energy data can provide policymakers with actionable insights into a nation’s energy landscape, facilitating evidence-based strategies for achieving energy efficiency. Industry players in the energy sector also leverage open energy data to drive innovation and optimise operations. Whether it’s enhancing the efficiency of renewable energy installations or exploring new avenues in smart grid technologies.

Types of energy data available through open energy data

These high-value energy datasets are specifically designed to cover renewable energy and energy efficiency and can offer excellent insights into different ways to save money (and/or have more control over energy bills).

Some examples of such datasets include:

• Geothermal: Includes insights into ways to harness Earth’s heat for energy, exploring the potential of geothermal power as a sustainable and renewable resource.
• Wind: Focuses on the dynamics of wind energy, providing data to optimise wind power generation.
• Water: Datasets that can help understand how water can be a powerful force for energy generation in various settings.
• Solar: Explores the potential of solar energy, offering data to maximise efficiency in capturing sunlight for electricity generation and heating applications.
• Biomass: Delves into the realm of organic materials, providing insights into the sustainable use of biological resources for energy production.
• Hydrogen: Reveals the potential of hydrogen and its applications in various industries that might currently rely on fossil fuels.
• Buildings: Focuses on optimising energy use within structures (for example, capturing also smart meter data), providing data to enhance energy efficiency through innovative architectural designs, materials, and technologies.
• Smart Grid: Paves the way for a technologically advanced energy distribution system, offering datasets that enable real-time monitoring and management of energy consumption.

These datasets aren’t just strings of information; they represent a roadmap toward a more sustainable and cost-effective energy future. By tapping into these valuable resources, individuals, businesses, and policymakers can unlock a world of possibilities, making informed decisions that drive the transition towards cleaner, greener, and more efficient energy practices.

Data Applications for more energy-efficient industries

In terms of applications, the datasets mentioned above can be used across several industries. For instance:

1. NREL’s end-use load profiles dataset: This dataset, which is used for energy efficiency analysis and planning, contains 15-minute resolution load profiles for all major residential and commercial building types and end uses across various climate regions.
2. Smart Dataset: This dataset contains electricity consumption data from over 400 homes. It is often used for research and development of smart home energy management systems, which can lead to considerable energy savings.
3. 100% Renewable Energy Atlas: This searchable database has a visual representation of renewable energy projects across the world (including charts and other resources). It provides valuable information for the energy industry to identify and analyse renewable energy projects, which can contribute to energy savings and sustainability efforts.
4. Utility Rate Database (URDB): The URDB provides information about utility rates and can help identify opportunities for energy savings and efficiency improvements.

It’s worth noting, though, that leading utilities are taking data sharing a step further by sharing it outside the sector and with non-traditional partners to deepen its impact and create new use cases.

Data collection and analysis by Eliq

Collecting and sharing data between teams can help increase efficiency and enable closer collaboration. What’s more, sharing this data more widely with stakeholders, from local governments to start-ups, also offers deeper benefits for customers, organisations, and even society as a whole.

Eliq offers digital energy products and insights for smart homes, retail banks, and businesses. To do this, we analyse billions of energy data points from open data and more to allow you to provide a better customer experience.

Eliq Energy Insights provides smart and detailed insights into home energy consumption to help users understand their consumption patterns and make them more efficient. Additionally, our company offers customer engagement software for energy suppliers, which uses energy insights and self-service tools to drive engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty.

If you want to learn more about our products, contact us or book a demo today.