Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has announced the launch of a new and innovative tool to help support an efficient and cost-effective transition to net zero.

The Near Real-time Data Access (NeRDA) tool is going beyond existing data sharing methods by examining how near real-time data can be best used by stakeholders.

With an increasing number of consumers forecast to shift towards low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, the energy system is becoming smarter to accommodate this uptake. The near real-time data identifies areas where flexibility could be used or where network reinforcement will be needed.

Flexibility enables the movement of timing and location of both the consumption and generation of energy; with more technologies participating in flexibility, having an up-to-date view of the energy system will be key in ensuring an efficient and cost-effective transition to net zero. The UK Government's Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan highlighted the potential for flexibility to reduce annual energy system costs by £10bn a year by 2050, whilst creating 24,000 jobs.


NeRDA continues SSEN's commitment to provide open data and share electricity demand estimates with stakeholders. It will be trialled in Oxfordshire, where approximately 100 low voltage monitors were installed earlier this year as part of Project Local Energy Oxfordshire (LEO). LEO is one of the UK's most innovative smart grid trials and later this year will conduct trials in six areas throughout Oxfordshire.

NeRDA will provide stakeholders and participants in LEO's upcoming trials with near real-time access to data, helping inform local plans, products, and services in the region, and supporting participants in the transition to net zero.

Colin Mathieson, DSO and Innovation Delivery Manager at SSEN said: "Data sharing will play a crucial role in the net zero journey. We are excited to be trialling this project with a wide variety of stakeholders in Oxfordshire and to be promoting data sharing. We have made this data publicly available and will continue to work alongside the households, businesses, and communities we serve to deliver a fair, cost-effective and secure transition to a net zero future.

"NeRDA is playing a key role in supporting a cost-effective and efficient transition to net zero. As we decarbonise heat and transport and move towards low carbon technologies, knowing current demand on the electricity network will help in identifying new opportunities for low carbon technologies, flexibility, and reinforcement."

Project NeRDA is an 18-month Network Innovation Allowance project which was awarded £447,035 in funding. The project will support the move to a flexible, decentralised energy system underpinned by rich, local and accessible data.