News: Danish data portal to kick-start smart efficiency solutions innovation
A new online portal, which gives open access to Denmark’s energy data, is set to spark innovation in smart, data-led solutions for energy efficiency.
The Energy Data Service, launched on Saturday by the CEO of Denmark’s state-owned gas and electricity operator, Energinet, and the Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate, will share near real-time aggregated energy consumption data for all Danish municipalities, as well data on CO2 emissions, energy production and the electricity market.
Developers, entrepreneurs and companies will be able to access and use the data to create apps and other smart data services that empower consumers to use energy more efficiently and flexibly, saving them money and cutting their carbon footprint.
Viderum is the technology partner behind the Energy Data Service. It developed the portal using CKAN, the leading data management platform for open data, originally developed by non-profit organisation Open Knowledge International.
Sebastian Moleski, CEO of Viderum says that the firm is excited to be working with Energinet at the forefront of the open data revolution to make Denmark’s energy data available to everyone via the new portal.
“The portal makes a huge amount of complex data easily accessible, and we look forward to developing its capabilities further in the future, eventually providing real-time energy and CO2 emissions data,” he said.
Energinet hopes that the Energy Data Service will be a catalyst for the digitalisation of the energy sector and for green innovation and economic growth, both in Denmark and beyond.
Peder Ø. Andreasen, CEO of Energinet, believes that, as part of the transition to a low carbon future, consumers need to be empowered to be smarter with how they use energy.
“The Energy Data Service will enable the development of innovative data based solutions to make this possible. For example, an electric car that knows when there is spare capacity on the electricity grid, making it a good time to charge itself,” he said.
“Or an app that helps local authorities understand energy consumption patterns in social housing, so they can make improvements that will save money and cut carbon.”
The current version of the Energy Data Service includes features such as API (Application Programme Interface) access to all raw data, downloadable data sets in regular formats (CSV and Excel), helpful user guides, contextual information and descriptions of data sets and online discussion forum for questions and knowledge sharing.
Source: Energyzine
