Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | MARCH 2023 | 41 Technology Open data A Utility Week research report in association with AWS January 2023 CONTENTS Download the report Download the report Open Data: the Great Enabler in UK Utilities free at: utilityweek.co.uk in the In Depth section. in association with the industry to create a "scalable open data frameworks". Or, in simple language, a com- mon data language and an agreed framework under which that can be shared. Stream has received innovation funding from Ofwat and is now in a 20-week blueprint phase, which aims to deliver a detailed blueprint for the design and execution of an open data solu- tion, including data compliance. Key technologies All of these strides in the way organisa- tions collect, manage and interpret data are underpinned by advances in technol- ogy. Rolf Gibbels, AWS's head of worldwide power and utilities, names some of the key technological advances powering the data revolution as: • Cloud and hybrid cloud technologies, • Data lakes, • Machine learning and arti… cial intelligence, • IoT and edge computing. Open data and the transformation of utilities The open data agenda must provide better outcomes for consumers, whether via more eˆ cient operation of assets, or more and bet- ter targeted service options for consumers, including the ability for them to interrogate their energy and water use and hence reduce their bills. But in order for utilities to make those changes for customers, they must … rst manage their own transformation. Open data brings with it a new relation- ship with all customer groups and poten- tially a new way of working. Utilities have a long way to go on an open data journey that will require them to transform both them- selves and their customer interactions. They are aided in that transformation by the fact that they are embedded in an infrastructure industry that is also being transformed by data and digitalisation. The expectation from both utilities' customers and their supply chain partners is that data is an enabler, and one that is shared where it creates value – and one where change can be very fast. "We have set up a standalone team focused around enabling open data, we have put together a strategy with a series of clear principles that we have published that really frames our approach." Matt Webb, head of enterprise data management, UK Power Networks "Probably the most challenging step is how to get all the required data from around the business into a standard format." Imad Ahmed, head of fundraising and leader of the Big Data initiative, UKWIR "If a company hasn't invested in an API framework, they should do so now – this is how companies will connect to the digitalspine." Shuchi Nagar, head of architecture and data, SGN "It has been hugely taken for granted that the communications infrastructure is there that is needed to support digitalisation and it is not." Eric Brown, adviser, Energy Systems Catapult "Most of the DNOs have got heat maps to tell you how constrained the grid is and how much headroom there is on each of the substations. But most of them are static." Dr Je Hardy, director, Sustainable Energy Futures "Most of the DNOs have got heat maps to tell you how constrained the grid is and how much headroom there is on each of the substations. But most of them are static." Dr Je Hardy "We have set up a standalone team focused around enabling open data, we have put together a strategy with a series of clear principles that we have published that really frames our "Probably the most challenging step is how to get all the required data from around the business into a standard format." , head of fundraising and leader of the Big Data initiative, UKWIR "If a company hasn't invested in an API framework, they should do so now – this is how companies will connect to the "It has been hugely taken for granted that the communications infrastructure is there that is needed to support digitalisation and it is not." Open data is on the agenda at Utility Week Live, with Icebreaker One's Gavin Starks and project leaders from Project Stream among our industry speakers. Register for your FREE ticket now at utilityweeklive.co.uk

• Cover