Datasets - Descriptions and Attributes

Near Real-time Data Access (NeRDA)

https://nerda.ssen.co.uk
***Please note that you will need to create an account to access the data***

Also referred to as: time series data, monitoring data, substation consumption data, demand data.

The data accessed through the NeRDA Portal:

• Allows stakeholders to monitor or understand what is going on in their network
• Provides open data and shares electricity demand estimates with stakeholders
• Examines how near real-time energy demand and usage data can be best used by stakeholders.
• Can be used to identify areas where flexibility could be used or where network reinforcement will be needed within the local network area
• Can be used to monitor the health of the network using the timeseries analogue values which is to be made available to stakeholders
• Consists of tabular timeseries data with measurements for Mutiple sensors from the Low Voltage (LV) or High Voltage (HV).
• Contains the below 3 datasets:
  • Extra High Voltage (EHV)/High Voltage datasets from SCADA
  • Low Voltage datasets from LV Monitoring devices
  • Load modelling data.

There are two ways to access the data using the NeRDA Portal navigating to and around substations within the Portal itself or via API Access.

Data Collection

HV monitoring is performed within the electrical transformers on the network, data is collected every 3 minutes

LV monitoring is performed using LV monitoring devices, data is collected every 10 minutes. 13 or 14 measurements are transmitted (including frequency, phase angle, voltage angle, reactive powers, and apparent power) then used to calculate the mean, min max, rms.

The data is then transmitted to the host platform.

Open Data Portal

https://data.ssen.co.uk

Our Open Data Portal is a single point of access to all the data Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks publishes. This catalogue of data brings visibility to our network assets, their location, their usage, and their performance.  From here you can access our:

• Long Term Development Statements (LTDS)
• Distribution Future Energy Scenarios Datasets (DFES)
• Smart Meter Data
• Embedded Capacity Register (ECR)
• Generation Availability and Network Capacity
• SSEN Substation Data

Please see below for detailed descriptions and attributes for each.

Long Term Development Statements (LTDS)

There are 2 separate datasets:

• Southern England – https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/sepd_long_term_development_statement
• North of Scotland – https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/shepd_long_term_development_statement

The Long Term Development Statements (LTDS) provide information for anyone connecting to distribution system at an extra high voltage (EHV) level (including HV busbar of primary substations). It is designed to help to identify and evaluate opportunities for entering arrangements relating to use of system or connection.

The LTDS datasets:

• Contain a static representation of the network model peak demands from the previous financial year.
• Provide everything that would underpin a network model, it allows users to run their own studies on the model network.
• Provide extra information such as network development proposals for future years in the form of a forecast.
• Provide schematic diagrams of the network.
• Provide fault level data and users can use it for tasks such as understanding what the fault level is nearby.
• Can be used to view forecasts and to identify what available capacity might be remaining on the network. However, this kind of analysis has mainly moved to another dataset, the Network Development Plan.

Data is provided in the form of excel spreadsheets and pdfs for tabular data and other schematic data or reports. Users will download the static version of the network.

Data Collection

The model is generally kept up to date throughout the year internally but, is updated manually. The dataset itself is built upon another of SSENs core datasets but, the process of grouping them is manual. Data is pulled from all the relevant monitoring datasets for example primary substations and primary transformers. The plan in the future is to move LTDS from a static model to improve usability and reduce manual efforts.

Distribution Future Energy Scenarios Datasets (DFES)

https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/low_carbon_technologies

Also referred to as: Building Block Data, Technology forecasts.

A Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) analysis for both the North of Scotland (SHEPD) and Southern England (SEPD) distribution network licence areas. LCT uptake scenario projections for EVs, electricity fuelled heating technologies and domestic rooftop solar PV capacity to secondary substation and feeder level, year by year, out to 2050.

It provides a standardised process for understanding future forecasts for generation, low carbon technology (LCT) demand.

Data Collection

• Updated annually – an assurance check is carried out before the data is published
• Collected from multiple sources e.g. survey data, published material from local authorities and LCT uptake rate.

Smart Meter Data

https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/ssen_smart_meter_prod_lv_feeder

Also referred to as: Consumption data, smart meter consumption data, aggregated consumption data

Smart meter LV feeder half hourly usage data is collected directly from smart meters in homes and businesses and anonymised through aggregation to no less than 5 properties through SSEN’s smart meter adapter. There is a postcode and LV Feeder Dataset ID lookup to provide the aggregated half hourly consumption data in Watt-hours (combined primary and secondary active import Wh), from the relevant secondary transformer and low voltage feeder IDs with a total count of smart meters.

The data can be used:

• To provide an LV level view of smart meter or household consumption
• To enhance visibility through making more accurate internal load models, which equates to all the load going across the network at any level.
• As inputs to load models to help with other tasks such as forecasting.
• To facilitate the comparison of Smart Meter Data with the real aggregated data – previously LV feeder usage was estimated.

Data Collection

1. The Data Communications Company (DCC) collect the raw data for 2.6 million smart meters and store it for 24 hours based on a Service-Level Agreement (SLA)
2. SSEN requests a full day’s worth of data for 2.6 million smart meters from the DCC
3. Once the previous day’s data is received from the DCC, it is then sent on to the adapter provider CGI IT UK LTD
4. CGI IT UK LTD then perform all the calculations and aggregations on the data before returning it so SSEN
5. Once this data is received, it can be published onto the portal.

Embedded Capacity Register (ECR)

https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/embedded_capacity_register

Formerly: System Wide Register

The Embedded Capacity Register (ECR) has been developed to provide better information to electricity network stakeholders on connected resources and network requirements. Each Distribution Network Operator (DNO) will host a register which will provide accessible information at a local and national level. The register uses a format agreed through the Energy Networks Association’s Open Networks project, an industry initiative aimed at transforming the operation of energy networks and delivering a smart grid.

Our register provides information on generation and storage resources (>=50kW) that are connected, or accepted to connect, to the electricity distribution networks owned and operated by us and it will be updated on a monthly basis. The register also includes information on the flexibility services that are being provided by connected resources, assisting to control or schedule demand and/or generation to reduce network constraints.

The data allows any interested part to understand what is connected to the network, for example:

• National Energy System Operator (NESO) use the date to view overall capacity and plan for their future capacity needs. This will help them understand and manage network constraints.
• Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs) use the data in conjunction with generation data to participate in constraint management.
• It helps providers inform their decision making around connections. They can see what’s already connected and what’s in the queue e.g. lots of generation storage waiting might take years to implement.

Data Collection

When a connection to the network is requested, a new point in the connection database is created.  This internal SSEN data is exported on a monthly basis and any new connections or amendments within a licence area, with a capacity > 50 kW, will be updated on the ECR.

Generation Availability and Network Capacity

https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/generation-availability-and-network-capacity

Also referred to as: Heat Maps

Our Generation Availability and Contracted demand map for both north and south. Our map provides an indication of the networks capability to connect large-scale developments to major substations. Accompanying the map, the heat map spreadsheets for both of our network regions provides Grid Supply Point (GSP) details, GSP and substation transformer ratings, Fault level information, and contracted and quoted generation projects at each GSP.

SSEN Substation Data

https://data.ssen.co.uk/@ssen-distribution/ssen-substation-data

This details SSEN Substations, their type and identification and location coordinates for both North of Scotland (SHEPD) and Southern England (SEPD) licence areas. It’s an extract from the geographic information system (GIS) system that references the locations of the substation sites, consisting of an excel file with a list of substations, whether they are pole or ground mounted, its coordinates.

The data:

• provides a locational view of the network where substations are connected.
• facilitates many use cases for example emergency services to understand where a substation is if things go wrong.
• Assists renewable companies in understanding the location of power sources to use alongside other datasets.
• Assists university graduates with studies.

Data Collection

When SSEN field teams and delivery managers are building/changing/disposing a new network, data is collected then passed to the team. Any required additions or amendments to the data in the GIS and asset register are then made.