The UK is at a turning point in its energy transformation. Since ambitiously committing to reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 in 2019, the country has accelerated its investment in green energy solutions. While consumer pressure for sustainable solutions intensifies and regulatory frameworks become more stringent, there is undoubtedly a need for accurate, authoritative data, including location data to inform decision-making and drive sustainable development.

At Ordnance Survey, we are in a unique position as the national mapping service for Great Britain. Our combination of data and geospatial expertise allows us to assist organisations to balance the various societal and economic demands with government policy and regulation – helping drive the UK forward towards its energy goals.

Increased regulatory and consumer pressures have significant implications for the UK's race to net zero. Regulatory changes such as the introduction of stricter emission targets that put pressure on industries to shift to a greener approach are driving businesses to innovate and invest in greener technologies more rapidly. Coupled with consumers’ desire for transparency surrounding sustainability, these increased pressures encourage investment in greener technologies.

Removing barriers in the renewable energy sector and supporting innovation are key to scaling the industry effectively and ensuring its resilience. Data plays a crucial role in this by supporting informed decision-making for green energy projects, particularly through the use of location data in energy asset planning, site development and maintenance. Accurate geospatial information helps ensure decisions are based on reliable, relevant information.

At OS, we see key decisions being made every day on infrastructure and assets, all using our authoritative location data. Our up-to-date geospatial data ensures that the representations of these sites and the surrounding environment are as accurate as possible.

Once an asset is assigned a unique identifier number, it can then be linked to a specific geospatial reference point such as a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN). This enables cross-referencing with additional datasets, for example, the OS NGD Land Use and Land Cover themes, which provide context on how land is used and the physical characteristics of different areas. These additional data layers can offer insights into energy usage and the impact of energy efficiency measures, and can be used to inform government policy.

Renewable energy assets such as solar panels and wind turbines have massive potential to reduce GHG emissions. Additionally, we have been working alongside the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly known as the Coal Authority) on a project to utilise disused coal mines’ water as a low-carbon heat resource for homes, offices, industry and agriculture.

However, to make this process as efficient as possible, the industry requires comprehensive insights – ranging from identifying energy demand to overcoming implementation barriers. By leveraging data, particularly OS location data, businesses can make more informed decisions about their green investments.

Data plays a crucial role in this by supporting informed decision-making for green energy projects, particularly through the use of location data in energy asset planning, site development and maintenance.

Optimising green energy development
New enhancements such as field boundaries, land cover information and building information in OS data have the potential to support decision-making to identify suitable areas for green energy solutions, shaping future environmental policies and targets. Land cover information uses machine learning to calculate percentage values for natural land cover types, which are beneficial for environmental sector organisations interested in meeting net zero targets. Similarly, building information data can be used to support solar energy retrofitting decisions using data like roof shape, aspect or the current presence of solar panels.

One of the key developments in this sector is the expansion of electricity grid infrastructure, particularly the creation of new pylon routes to support grid extensions. Efficiently connecting remote energy sources such as offshore wind farms and solar installations requires precise location data to ensure optimal pylon route planning while minimising environmental impact.

Our recent partnership with Sensat – a visualisation and collaboration software company for civil infrastructure – is a prime example of how OS data can be utilised to inform the planning capabilities for large-scale infrastructure projects such as pylon routes. Sensat provides a digital twin platform that allows infrastructure companies to plan and design projects efficiently – one such customer being the National Grid.

It is also possible to analyse demand patterns for energy based on location data and built environment data, informing whether asset development would be beneficial in targeted areas. Using these data layers, companies can map existing energy assets and effectively consider the best locations to invest in development, prioritising areas where there is a greater need for specific assets.

Maintaining Britain’s green energy investments
While it is important to place these renewable energy assets in the correct location, their maintenance is also important in securing a sustainable future. UPRNs are the authoritative identifier of properties and assets on a national scale, ensuring every location in Great Britain can be identified. By combining an asset’s UPRN or other geospatial reference point with maintenance records and real-time sensor data associated with energy assets, failures can be predicted and can allow for proactive maintenance of specific sites.

Working alongside Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), OS has helped to maintain 48,500 km of high-voltage, overhead power lines in Great Britain through our OS MasterMap data. This data enabled SSE to analyse contextual information efficiently, reducing costs. This imagery allowed SSE to remotely examine powerline routes with fewer site visits, identifying, for example, where trees are more likely to fall onto power cables.

As the urgency of reducing GHG emissions increases, accurate location data is becoming vital to green energy investments. At OS, we believe that location data is the key to ensuring a steady journey towards a net zero future, futureproofing the green energy sector.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

• Further reading: ‘Special pylon tour wows girl, 4, but others remain less enthusiastic’. A young girl who has a special interest in electricity pylons – also known as electric towers – recently had her dreams come true when she was invited to visit National Grid’s high voltage Penwortham substation in Preston, UK.
• How will the newly formed National Energy System Operator (NESO) and Great Britain’s first Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) guide the country’s energy transition?