Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), have a key role to play in delivering Net Zero as part of the future energy system. Strong digital capabilities will ensure we play our part; this means being smarter in how we access, make available, use and analyse data and facilitate others’ use of our data to drive commercial and societal value.
Critical to this is increasing the discoverability and accessibility of the data we hold, making it easier for users to gain insights and bring innovative market solutions so optimising the electricity system for consumers. Key to this is supporting faster and more efficient connection methods and while our current stakeholder led strategy supports open data provision, it does not extend to supporting data users to create insights to support faster connections.
D2I will provide a step-change in engagement with energy data, supported through the advances in AI and other digital technologies. This one-of-a-kind approach will evaluate the benefits of applying leading-edge analytical techniques (including Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Explainable Artificial Intelligence and Generative Modelling) to carefully interrogate and interpret siloed disparate DNO data sources to present information needed by stakeholders (see appendix). These techniques and technologies will also be applied to the challenge of data that is missing, incomplete or sparse. The key marker of success will be the ease of use, and the low level of technical expertise required to acquire insights.
There are two main innovative aspects:
1. Remove technical barriers to customer insight journeys from DNO data
2. Employ state of the art models to understand how to collect, analyse and store data efficiently
The Alpha project will focus on key elements to inform the future vision of an efficient, consistent and economically sustainable data strategy, that delivers a curated service to the end user regardless of their data skills. Additionally, Alpha will identify use cases to demonstrate the value of the solution and reveal any data governance barriers that might prevent BaU deployment.
D2I aims to accelerate and reduce the cost of digitalisation across the energy sector, leading to an acceleration of decarbonisation and increase the deliverability of Net Zero and Clean Power 2030. D2I will remove barriers and provide stakeholders with enhanced access to the insights needed to support their Net Zero strategies and plans by applying leading edge analytical techniques. The Project will deliver a model that could be adopted by other DNOs.
The pre-innovation baseline considers the cost of SSEN publishing real-time measurement data from all substations within SSEN’s licenses. Stakeholders will either require specific expertise or contract specialist engineering consultants to deliver insights from the data.
D2I is designed to deliver both quantitative and qualitative benefits across the range of the listed SIF specific benefits areas. The benefits outlined below will deliver a net benefit to electricity customers both financially and environmentally.
Cost of DNOs gathering and hosting data
There is significant cost for DNOs to gather and publish data. This data cannot always be effectively used by stakeholders and in some instances is incorrect data. D2I will use data management and analytical techniques to reduce data errors and reduce hosting costs.
Reduction in speculative connection requests
Providing stakeholders with insights is expected to lead to reduced speculative connection requests, therefore, reducing associated costs and improving workflow planning.
Enhanced capability to identify network capacity
DNO stakeholders and network planning teams will also benefit gaining the ability to identify capacity in the network for processing connection requests, leading to reduced engineering time required for each connection. Enhanced insights could also identify where in the network overloads are likely to occur preventing any overload related outages.
Lowering the cost of procuring flexibility services
D2I will enable innovators to introduce new flexibility services and products to the market creating more competition and reducing the cost of procuring flexibility services for DNOs.
Increased investor confidence
Trusted insights enable investors to reduce uncertainty and improve decision-making processes. By leveraging complex data into easy-to-understand and reliable insights investors will gain a deeper understanding of the network.
Reduced needs for specialist consultancies
By providing essential insights, the D2I project will reduce the number of days stakeholders require from consultancy services, bringing further cost savings for users of network services.
LCT uptake will be accelerated and reach Net Zero faster
D2I will increase investor confidence and accelerate the connection of low carbon generation and storage so reducing the carbon intensity of electricity and supporting the transition to Clean Power 2030.
New propositions from flexibility service providers
By making data and insights more accessible, D2I will enable Flexibility Service Providers to create new propositions enabling increased adoption of flexibility services. This will unlock network capacity could be used to generate revenues.
Improved access to national energy markets
Understanding where there is capacity on the network will enable renewable and storage developers to identify where they will have improved access to national energy markets, balancing mechanism (BM) and fast frequency response (FFS) markets.)
Economic Growth
Open data contributes to innovation and economic growth, primarily through datasets that directly form part of value-added activities where data is the primary product or service. Businesses and innovators accessing open data can innovate, attract new customers, improve customer experiences and enhance their offering.
SIF £499.820
June 2025 – November 2025
D2I received SIF funding in the February rounds of applications.
Alpha phase work will start June for six months.
Cori Critchlow-Watton
Fraser Macintyre
