Forecasting the future of energy demand
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Technology is transforming the energy sector, yet modelling and policy continues to be based on data from the past. As grids decarbonise, we need new tools to understand rapid energy system change.
Centre for Net Zero is researching and forecasting the future of energy demand, using AI and ML models and international field trials. We share our work and data openly, for the benefit of governments, policy-makers and grid operators.
Our academic papers
Our work
Research
We run international, rigorous field trials with customers to simulate future energy scenarios - expanding the global evidence base in behavioural science and energy economics.
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Technologies
We encode future energy behaviours into dynamic and granular data, models and tools powered by advanced AI and ML - available via open access.
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Impact
We take insights from our research to campaign for policies and open data initiatives that can unlock tech-led decarbonisation at speed, across multiple markets.
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The amount of renewable capacity added to global energy system in 2024
An increase of 15% compared to the year before, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
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The increase in global demand flexibility capacity needed by 2030
If we're to effectively harness the growing amount of renewable power, according to the IEA's Net Zero Scenario - which mandates 500 GW of demand response brought onto the market by 2030.
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Benefits of a flexible energy system in the UK by 2035
Fully flexible heating and transport alone amount to significant savings to the system, every year, according to modelling by Centre for Net Zero - based on the system operator's Future Energy Scenarios.
Latest news
OpenSynth: beyond demand data
Updates to the scope of the open data community OpenSynth, outlining the integration of grid data alongside demand data.
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What happens when homes switch to heat pumps? Updates to our working paper
Our team highlight some recent revisions we've made to our heat pump working paper, which investigates impacts on energy demand using customer data, at scale.
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CNZ CEO appointed as UK Government's Clean Energy AI Champion
Lucy Yu has recently been announced as the Government’s Clean Energy AI Champion – helping to drive the adoption of AI across the UK’s clean energy sector.
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