The Network Operational Data Dashboard (NODD) was designed to give easy access to a lot of information pertaining to a Grid Supply Point (GSP). The GSP is UK Power Networks’ boundary with transmission, and the super grid transformers themselves are owned by National Grid.

The dashboard informs of the operational limits of the assets, inclusive of any technical limits that have been agreed with National Grid. We also include information about the generation connections queue for other connections applicants under each GSP. To add improved value, we also combine this all with the real time and historical power flow information of the super grid transformers and aggregated GSP information.

The cables and overhead lines that travel between our grid supply points and our grid substations are known as 132kV circuits. The DSO releases the historic power flow data for all monitored 132kV circuits within our licence areas. This includes the release of historical half hourly active power (MW) and current (Amps) flows across all 132kV circuits (where possible) from 2021 to last month.

To make the data more accessible and interoperable, the cables can be linked with the equivalent naming in the Long-Term Development Statement Publication (LTDS).

The Flexibility Dispatches dataset details flexibility service dispatches issued by UK Power Networks. Users can search back to 1 April 2023 and new dispatches are added monthly. This dataset gives the user the latest information on provision of flexibility on our network, providing insight and transparency to market participants.

Each row includes the timing, location, product, capacity, technology, and provider for our growing volume of flexibility dispatches. A typical month can see thousands of such dispatches. The dataset can be downloaded to the right or incorporated into the user’s interface via API.

Note that flexibility provided through our ‘Sustain’ product is not dispatched and is not included within this dataset.

The time of day when curtailment is likely to occur is a significant consideration for storage customers considering their connection offers. We aim to provide these customers with a detailed understanding of the network to best inform their decision-making. Long-Term Operational Windows are a valuable part of our information provision for storage customers, enabling them to make more efficient use of the network.

This dataset provides a profile estimating customers’ network access and curtailment under worst-case network conditions. Using historical network usage data and the pipeline of future connections, Operational Windows provide storage customers with greater certainty on periods of unrestricted access.

This annual report creates a picture of how the energy system might look by 2050. The analysis models different ‘drivers’ of change; like the uptake of electric cars, low carbon heating, renewable energy or changing consumer behaviours and how they are spread across our licence areas.

The result is four ‘scenario worlds’, each offering a different picture of the future. We publish this as an interactive summary, a technical report, and as interactive maps. We also publish the raw data so users can create their own analysis.

The DFES feeds into our strategic forecasting system so it influences our forecasts of demand and generation on every substation for the following year. However, the research isn’t just for our drive to lowering emissions. We want to share insights with local councils, regional planning authorities, businesses, or charities to help them create their own climate action plans.

Our historical grid transformer power flow data enable the public additional transparency on how the network is utilised. This information enables developers to run more detailed network studies considering historical network conditions. The dataset can be linked to our Long Term Development Statement to combine historical data with forward-looking predictions of network usage and changes.

We understand that participating in DSO flexibility can be a step into the unknown.

We want to make it as easy as possible for organisations to understand whether providing flexible capacity to UK Power Networks might be for them, providing trusted insight from their peers to complement other datasets on this site such as our Dispatch Data.

We work with a wide variety of different flexibility providers with different technologies and objectives for flexibility. We plan to publish a growing set of case studies to ensure providers can benefit from the most relevant experiences.

We hope they will give you the information and confidence you need to join a growing number of organisations delivering flexibility on our network and meeting the challenges of Net Zero.

Operators of DERs under curtailable connections benefit from increased visibility of future network conditions. Using machine learning methods, we forecast network loading at key constraints up to 48 hours ahead, and translate that into estimated curtailment for DERs. Curtailment forecasts provide DER operators with certainty regarding their network access, allowing them to trade more efficiently and provide valuable services to balance the grid.

To facilitate accelerated and cheaper connections, UK Power Networks pioneered curtailable-connections using our Active Network Management (ANM) technology. This allows customers to connect to our network and operate without paying for or waiting for reinforcement works subject to being turned down during periods of high network congestion. Certain points on our network experience that connection more than others depending on the demand and generation at a period of time; these points are called constraints.

Curtailable-connections will experience curtailment should the constraints breach certain limits. This dataset reveals the near-real-time status of all constraints on our network, helpfully converted to a headroom percentage for ease of understanding.

To facilitate accelerated and cheaper connections, UK Power Networks pioneered curtailable-connections using our Active Network Management (ANM) technology. This allows distributed energy resource (DER) customers to connect to our network and operate without paying for or waiting for reinforcement works subject to being turned down during periods of high network congestion.

This dataset offers full transparency of constraint and non-constraint driven curtailment experienced by each DER. To protect their commercial sensitivity, the public have an anonymised only view. The DER operators themselves get rich access to their own data.

Developers investing in curtailable connections must estimate their likely curtailment rates in order to accurately assess a project’s financial viability. UK Power Networks provides developers with industry-leading insight on their connection offers, including times of highest curtailment, key constraints impacting curtailment and visibility on the connections queue.

The DSO has developed software for the DNO Planning team to generate detailed curtailment assessments that will be be offered to applicants. These reports give a realistic expectation of curtailment were the customer, and queue, be connected to our network using real historical power flows.

Our commitment to industry wide whole-system coordination, UK Power Networks is collaborating with the ESO in a sophisticated data exchange for operational DER data.

It utilises the existing Inter-Control Centre Communications Protocol (ICCP) link to streamline data to the ESO, enhancing network monitoring capabilities and enabling them to assess the effectiveness of dispatch instructions in managing transmission constraints.

Secondly, an Application Programming Interface (API) method which facilitates direct data transmission to the ESO’s dispatch platform, enabling informed operational decisions and service schedule creation.

We additionally plan to share real time DER unavailability too showing unplanned outages or communication failures. Aligning with ‘D-licence’ requirements updated through Distribution Network Assurance checks to prevent or mitigate any conflicts arising from the dispatch of DERs for resolving transmission constraints.

For publicly shared DER unavailability, consider subscribing to our Daily Operational Plan.