Open Energy Glossary

This glossary is generated automatically from the google sheet here

Advisory Group

AG - Open Energy has two advisory groups that support consultation and guidance of activities during phase 3 of the project. The groups cover membership and delivery.

Application programming interface

API - A computing interface determining how different software intermediaries interact (e.g. how requests can be made, data formats etc.).

Authentication

AuthN - See terminology page assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Authorization

AuthZ - See terminology page assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

BEIS - Government department, also responsible for the Smart Data programme of work. OE3 co-funder.

Committee on Climate Change

CCC - no definition

Centre for Digital Built Britain

CDBB - no definition

Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation

CDEI - no definition

Combined Heat and Power

CHP - CHP generates electricity whilst also capturing usable heat that is produced in this process. As a result, CHP operates at much higher efficiency than traditional power generation methods.

Common Information Model

CIM - An open, standardised method of representing computing devices and energy network asset types, and the relationships between them. www.theade.co.uk: what-is-combined-heat-and-power

Competition and Markets Authority

CMA - Competition policy and regulation, includes digital markets

Data and Communications Company

DCC - The ‘central communications body appointed to manage communications and data transfer for smart metering. It is responsible for linking smart meters in homes and small businesses with the systems of energy suppliers, network operators and other companies.’ www.ofgem.gov.uk: 126045

Distributed energy resources

DER - A term used to describe a combination of distributed generation and flexibility resources in the electricity system (e.g. solar PV, EVs, biogas, heat pumpts, batteries).

Distribution Future Energy Scenarios

DFES - Planning tools used by DNOs and GDNs, containing a range of possible views of the future. Also an ODI Leeds project: odileeds.org: dfes/

Data Governance Act

DGA - European regulatory proposal. ‘The proposal is the first of a set of measures announced in the 2020 European strategy for data. The instrument aims to foster the availability of data for use by increasing trust in data intermediaries and by strengthening data-sharing mechanisms across the EU.’ ec.europa.eu: proposal-regulation-european-data-governance-data-governance-act

Distribution Network Operator

DNO - Responsible for regional electricity distribution (lower voltage).

Data Provider

DP - Organisation providing data into the OE ecosystem

Data subject

DS - As defined by GDPR assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Distribution System Operator

DSO - In the UK, electricity DNOs are transitioning to become DSOs in response to electricity system changes (e.g. decentralisation, decarbonisation). The transition will change DNO responsibilities, broadening these from asset/network management. The term DSO is also commonly used outside of the UK.

Demand-side response

DSR - The act of shifting energy demand in order to relieve pressure on the grid, or consume excess power. e.g. industrial processes may be slowed down or turned off at times of peak demand to reduce grid constraints.

Enterprise Asset Management System

EASM - Technological system used to manage an entity’s assets (data, physical, human) and processes.

Electric charging station

ECS - Charging station for electric vehicles

Energy Data Best Practice

EDBP - Guidance laid out by the Modernising Energy Data consortium. modernisingenergydata.atlassian.net: Data+Best+Practice+latest+release+v0.21

Energy Data Service Provider

EDSP - An EDSP is a type of TPP operating within the OE ecosystem. EDSPs operate within a competitive market.

Energy Data Taskforce

EDTF - Comissioned by the ESC and chaired by Laura Sandys. Reported in 2019 - source of Presumed Open and data triage. The report’s 5 recommendations provided a significant steer to sector data policy.

EEBUS

EEBUS - A standard-development project aiming to define a standardised language for the energy Internet of Things www.eebus.org: what-is-eebus/

Energy Systems Capatult.

ESC - no definition

Electricity System Operator

ESO - Responsible for system operation and balancing. National ‘control room’. Role carried out by National Grid ESO (a separate company within the National Grid Group - not connected to the electricity TSO).

Electric vehicle

EV - no definition

Electric vehicle supply equipment

EVSE - Another term for electric vehicle charging stations and related equipment

Future Energy Scenarios

FES - Planning tools used by National Grid ESO, containing a range of future scenarios. www.nationalgrideso.com: future-energy-scenarios

Feed-in tariff

FIT - Tariff previously offered to small-scale and microgeneration for export of electricity to the grid. No longer taking new customers in the UK (new microgeneration is now offered an export tariff through the building’s electricity supplier)

Gas Distribution Network

GDN - Responsible for regional gas distribution (lower pressure).

General Data Protection Regulation

GDPR - Incorporated in UK law under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)

Geographical Information System

GIS - Framework for capturing, recording and displaying spatial data.

Gas System Operator

GSO - Responsible for system operation and balancing. National ‘control room’. Role carried out by National Grid Gas Plc (a separate company within the National Grid Group who also own the gas transmission network).

Gigawatt

GW - Unit of power equal to 1 billion watts.

Home Energy Management System

HEMS - A combination of sensors, metering, and data analytics designed to optimise energy usage within a building to maximise factors such as bills-reduction or comfort. Often used to optimise microgeneration, home battery, EV, domestic consumption and grid export.

Half hourly meter

HH - no definition

Industrial and commercial

I&C - Accronym commonly used in the energy sector to refer to non-domestic actors - particularly heavy industry and other high-consumption actors.

Information Commissioner’s Office

ICO - Data protection regulator

Industrial Computing System

ICS - no definition

Identification

ID - See terminology page assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Independent Distribution Network Operator

iDNO - IDNOs own and operate smaller networks located within the areas covered by the DNOs. IDNO networks are mainly extensions to the DNO networks serving new housing and commercial developments. www.ofgem.gov.uk: independent-distribution-network-operators

Internet of Things

IoT - A catch-all term used to refer to connected devices - e.g. fridges, washing machines, speakers etc.

Independent System Operator

ISO - There is currently a proposal, backed by Ofgem, to convert the ESO to an ISO. The proposal advocates this change in order to meet new requirements of system operation oriented towards achieving Net Zero. The change would involve some change in the ESO’s structure, responsibilities and relationship to other bodies in the sector.

Kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (per unit of fuel)

kgCO2e - A measure of greenhouse gas conversion from energy sources.

Kilowatt

kW - Unit of power equal to 1 thousand watts. www.ofgem.gov.uk: ofgem_-_review_of_gb_energy_system_operation_0.pdf

Kilowatt hour

kWh - A unit of measurement (3,500 Joules) equivalent to using a 1,000 Watt appliance for 1 hour.

Know Your Customer

KYC - Borrowed from banking/fraud - common among businesses to describe all aspects of licensing / permissions management for data consumers. (Definition provided by AG member)

Lawful basis

LB - As defined by GDPR assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Legitimate interest

LI - As defined by GDPR assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Machine to machine

M2M - no definition

Modernising Energy Data

MED - Consists of Ofgem, BEIS and Innovate UK. OE3 funders.

Multi Factor Authorisation

MFA - Commonly used security feature - e.g. password and one-time passcode via text/email

Minimum Viable Product

MVP - An early version of a product for initial release, potentially with limited features or space for future development.

Megawatt

MW - Unit of power equal to 1 million watts.

National Cyber Security Centre

NCSC - “The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides cyber security guidance and support helping to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.” www.ncsc.gov.uk:/

National Infrastructure Commission

NIC - no definition

Open Authorization 2

OAuth2 - Industry standard protocol for authorization assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Open Data Institute

ODI - Non-profit organisation aiming to build a trustworthy open data ecosystem theodi.org:/

Open Energy Phase 3

OE3 - The current phase of Open Energy’s development running from February - July 2021.

Open Energy Governance Platform

OEGP - The technical and governance architecture backing OE’s trust framework in which data is shared.

Office for Gas and Electricity Markets

Ofgem - Energy sector regulator. OE3 co-funder.

Open ID Connect

OIDC - An identity layer on top of OAuth2.0 protocol openid.net: connect/

Ordanance Survey

OS - Repository of geospatial data

One time passcode

OTP - A mechanism for customer login / part of two-step authorisation

Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles

OZEV - no definition

Peer to peer

P2P - Communications and energy supply. A mechanism for organising trade/exchange of goods or services directly between peers, without an intermediary body. Can be, but is not always, supported by a technology platform.

Pay As You Go

PAYG - no definition

Purchase Power Agreement

PPA - An electricity supply agreement between two parties - e.g. generator and trader.

Photovoltaic (cells/panels)

PV - Mechanism of generating renewable electricity - solar power.

Renewable Heat Incentive

RHI - Government-funded financial incentive to support uptake of renewable heat. www.ofgem.gov.uk: about-domestic-rhi

Revenues = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs

RIIO - Ofgem’s regulatory framework for network companies, negotiated every 5 years.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SCADA - A software and hardware system enabling remote monitoring and control, usually of industrial-scale equipment

Smart Energy Code

SEC - “​​​The Smart Energy Code (SEC) is a multi-Party agreement which defines the rights and obligations of energy suppliers, network operators and other relevant parties involved in the end to end management of smart metering in Great Britain.” smartenergycodecompany.co.uk:/

Smart Export Guarantee

SEG - “an obligation set by the government for licensed electricity suppliers to offer a tariff and make payment to small-scale low-carbon generators for electricity exported to the National Grid, providing certain criteria are met.” www.ofgem.gov.uk: about-smart-export-guarantee-seg

Steering Group

SG - Open Energy has a high-level steering group that supports consultation and guidance of activities during phase 3 of the project.

Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications

SMETS - SMETS describe the specifications of UK smart meters. Two generations of smart meters have been released to date - SMETS1 and SMETS2. www.ovoenergy.com: smets-1-and-2-new-smart-meter-generation.html

Single sign-on

SSO - A mechanism allowing federated access and re-use of the same credentials to logon to different services/sites. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: Dgen_and_BEIS_-_Smart_Data_-_Consent.pdf

Time of use

TOU - Energy supply tariff offering variable pricing depending on the time of day energy is used and the demand on the grid at that point in time.

Third Party Intermediary

TPI - A defined form of TPP recognised and operating in the energy sector. www.ofgem.gov.uk: third-party-intermediaries-tpi-programme

Third party provider

TPP - A third party providing services - generic term used across sectors.

Transmission System Owner

TSO - Owner of the national electricity and gas transmission networks (higher voltage/pressure).

Vehicle to grid

V2G - Bidirectional power flow between the grid and an EV battery. Enables EV owners to discharge power stored in batteries to the grid at times of need.

Virtual power plant

VPP - A digitally-connected set of distributed energy resources that can be aggregated to provide services (e.g. trading, generation)

X as as Service

XaaS - Generic term used to refer to various items (e.g. software, platforms, heat, mobility etc) that are being offered via ‘as a service’ business models.