A smart data service launched today will help accelerate the UK’s transition to Net Zero by unlocking crucial datasets and insights about electric vehicle access and energy use patterns across the country.
Energy Systems Catapult has launched SENSE to bridge critical data gaps that currently hinder decarbonisation efforts. SENSE is backed by Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). It is one of six new data services funded to help address societal challenges using ‘smart data’ – data generated through everyday digital interactions, from smartphones to smart home devices.
SENSE will focus on gathering data for two critical use cases:
- Equitable energy transitions – Exploring how public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure can support fair and inclusive access for rural and underserved communities.
- Energy behaviours and efficiency – Examining how societal behaviours impact energy use in public and commercial buildings, enabling more effective energy management.
As part of SDR UK, SENSE builds on Energy Systems Catapult’s extensive expertise in digital innovation and data-driven energy systems. This ensures that datasets are ‘findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable’ (FAIR) while maintaining stringent standards for privacy and security.
SENSE represents the next evolution in Energy Systems Catapult’s digital innovation journey. It builds directly on the success of InSite, the Catapult’s Net Zero data engine that has already demonstrated the power of smart data in decarbonising non-domestic buildings. Additionally, the Catapult’s contributions to data sharing platforms, such as USmart for seamless data accessibility underscore the Catapult’s role at the forefront of digital and data innovation.
Transforming energy data for Net Zero: A collaborative effort
SENSE will be delivered in collaboration with academic institutions including University of Oxford, University College London, University of Reading, University of Bristol, Leeds Beckett University, University of Leeds and University of Birmingham.
The Hartree Centre, part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), will develop a data platform which will host the available data. Counting Lab (data processing experts) will work together with several industry partners who are committed to furthering our ability to share data on this innovative project.
The collaboration will conduct investigations into how AI, machine learning, data science, and behavioural insights can optimise energy systems and drive progress towards Net Zero.
Part of a national data strategy
SENSE is one part of the UK’s wider national strategy to leverage data and technology for a sustainable future. By providing a centralised platform developed in collaboration with the Hartree Centre, SENSE will streamline access to anonymised, high-quality data, supporting researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders in addressing key decarbonisation challenges.
The programme objectives align with the UK government’s ambitious AI Opportunities Action Plan, showcasing how data innovation can address complex challenges in achieving Net Zero.
Jon Saltmarsh, Chief Technology Officer at Energy Systems Catapult, said, “Decarbonising our energy system is one of the greatest technical challenges of our time, and time is not on our side. SENSE is designed to cut through the complexity of fragmented data, providing a foundation for innovation at scale. By integrating robust infrastructure, and cross-sector partnerships, this programme will enable faster, smarter decisions to drive the UK’s energy transition.”
Christine St John Cox, Business Leader – Sites, at Energy Systems Catapult, said, “Being selected to support the Smart Data Research UK programme is a hugely exciting opportunity to explore how energy data can be made more accessible. Energy data is everywhere and yet nowhere; an untapped resource with the potential to reveal not just energy consumption patterns but also insights into broader social trends. By collecting and combining datasets, we can uncover valuable knowledge and advance our understanding in collaboration with our partners and the wider academic community.”
Joe Cuddeford, Director of Smart Data Research UK, said, “We are very pleased to welcome the SENSE team to our new portfolio of data services. Smart Data Research UK will offer a powerful, multidisciplinary infrastructure for smart data research. Our six interconnected services will enable researchers to access unprecedented insights across finance, energy, health, geography, and beyond – empowering innovative solutions to complex societal challenges facing the UK today.”
