Late last year, the Knowledge Dissemination Working Group - part of the Smart Energy Hubs program of the joint ROMs (ROM-Nederland) organized a webinar on sharing energy data in the context of the energy transition. This webinar covered the technical, legal and practical aspects of data sharing, with Mark de Hoop from Energie.data and Joost van der Linde from Netbeheer Nederland.
Why share energy data?
The energy transition requires an energy system that is flexible, open and distributed. For this, data is essential. Energy data makes it possible to better utilize infrastructure, inform investment decisions and improve cooperation between public and private parties. Joost van der Linde (Netbeheer Nederland) emphasized that data sharing is no longer an extra service, but a core task of grid managers.
New Energy Act as catalyst
The new Energy Act, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, creates the preconditions for data sharing. Two provisions in particular are important here. Article 3.78, regulates the obligation for active and passive public disclosure of data (open data). Chapter 4 contains the basic principles for data processing and thus provides the legal framework for sharing data that can (partly) qualify as personal data.
The law describes the processes for which data are exchanged, and places legal responsibility, among others, on registry operators. In addition, the Energy Act invests the legal task of facilitating data exchange with the Central Data Exchange Entity (GUE): The Normo. Through Het Normo, standardized disclosure and exchange of energy data is made possible, including data on consumption and connections. Exactly what data is to be shared will be further designated through a ministerial regulation.
Energy.data and No Wrong Door
Mark de Hoop presented the vision behind the network for energy data professionals on behalf of energie.data. Energie.data is not a database, but a platform that provides overview in the fragmented landscape of energy data. The goal is to make data accessible without sending users from pillar to post. Therefore, the platform works on the principle of "No Wrong Door": it should not matter to users which counter they knock on, they are either helped or referred correctly. This requires cooperation between points of contact, which energy.data organizes.
Energie.data connects national and regional grid operators, municipalities, provinces and market parties. It provides insight into available data, helps users get started and acts as a connector. It helps parties find relevant data on grid capacity, connections, flexibility, energy consumption and future expansions.
What will become available - and for whom?
The data products presented were divided into four categories: better utilization large consumption, better utilization small consumption, more insight and legal requirement. Within these, there is a clear distinction between publicly available data products and data products that are shared under conditions.
Publicly available data products (article 3.78 Energy Act)
This data may be made publicly accessible, unless there is a risk of traceability of the data to individual users (e.g. on the basis of an aggregation level) or if there are restrictions based on resilience requirements. In that case, additional conditions apply:
Examples:
- Capacity maps (grid management-wide - already available but being developed further)
- Power grid checkers from Liander, Enexis and Stedin (live)
- Capacity, load and net topology (historical, expected and forecast) (2026)
- Development of capacity over the years (and later 'across grid planes') by supply area (2026)
Data products with conditions (Chapter 4 Energy Act)
Energie.data has developed infographics that show the data flows around Chapter 4, and around an energy hub. It shows that the GUE will play an important role in unlocking data. The minister determines what data that is. This data, which is traceable to individual users, is shared through The Normo as GUE, only with the user themselves or their agent.
For example, in the case of energy hubs:
- Insight in own connection
- Consumption data large consumption and small consumption (per quarter)
- The active Measurement Leader and Program Leader.
Access is through Het Normo's EDX platform, which will be rolled out in 2026. Consultations on the data products and further development of the platform are via Hetnormo.nl and MFF (Market Facilitation Forum).
Exchange with participants
During the webinar many questions came in about the practical application of data products. What are you allowed to do with the data later? Who is responsible for the quality? And what does the playing field look like for private parties? The answers were nuanced: data is shared under clear conditions, with attention to privacy and equal access. At the same time, there is room for innovation and customization, for example through dashboards, integrations or local data offices.
A recurring theme was the need for clarity. Both speakers and participants indicated that the success of energy data stands or falls with clear agreements, findability of information and active support.
Want to know more?
Visit www.energiedata.nl for current data products and collaboration around sharing and leveraging energy data. At www.hetnormo.nl read more about Het Normo, the Data Exchange Entity (GUE), and its role in making clear and reliable agreements on the secure and transparent sharing of energy data. Finally, check out Netbeheer Nederland's "Roadmap Data Sharing for the Energy Transition.