UK Power Networks, SGN, NESO and Guidehouse have launched a research project to reveal how energy is really being used across the UK’s industrial sector. 
So-called ‘Indus 2.0’ will create a UK secure data-sharing platform between electricity and gas networks. By combining datasets and building a shared view of industrial demand, it will give planners and policy makers better visibility into industrial decarbonisation.
At present, it can be difficult for companies to forecast energy demand or assess the potential impact of future electricity connection requests. UKPN says Indus 2.0 will help network operators make smarter infrastructure decisions, reduce uncertainty and accelerate the UK’s shift to a low-carbon economy.  It will secure legal agreements, design shared digital infrastructure and test new forecasting approaches that reflect the full range of decarbonisation options. 
The project also recognises technologies like on-site energy generation and storage, which increasingly shape industrial demand patterns, says UKPN. Through engagement with interested parties and customer insights, Indus 2.0 will model pathways that reflect how businesses from various sectors will move towards low-carbon energy. 
An earlier Indus project focused on industrial clusters. Indus 2.0 scales it out to smaller and more distributed sites, which UKPN says will enable electricity and gas operators to plan with a shared view of customer needs and future demand, allowing for differences where needed. 
The project team will identify and categorise industrial users, align datasets and analyse the impact of industrial development on the energy network.
Luca Grella, head of innovation at UK Power Networks, said: “The UK’s journey to Net Zero can’t succeed without collaboration and transparency. Indus 2.0 is pioneering that approach by connecting energy networks and sharing vital data, so we can forecast demand more accurately and reduce uncertainty. This project will help us build a smarter, more flexible energy system that benefits both industry and consumers.”