Juliet Mason, partner at law firm TLT LLP explains how the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) Sector Digitalisation Plan could see data form the backbone of the government’s Solar Roadmap.
Britain’s clean energy ambitions depend not just on turbines and panels, but on something much less tangible: data.
Energy data infrastructure is now recognized as the central nervous system of a carbon-free electricity grid. Without this, the goal of achieving a completely clean energy system by 2030 simply cannot succeed.
The recently published NESO Sector Digitalization Plan 2025 places where reality is central. It describes how Britain can move from a patchwork of systems and interfaces to an integrated, intelligent network where data flows securely, assets are visible in real time and the energy system can function both reliably and flexibly.
Building the digital backbone for solar energy and renewable energy sources
That of the British government Solar road map aims to more than double installed solar capacity by 2030, aiming for a capacity of approximately 45-47 GW. This is a remarkable expansion, but it will only work if it is accompanied by an equally ambitious digital infrastructure. Connection queues, data bottlenecks, and inconsistent asset visibility threaten to slow progress unless addressed at the system level. The NESO plan recognizes that digital infrastructure is not a supplement to decarbonizing the economy; it is the way clean generation can be efficiently connected, managed and optimized.
For the solar sector, the consequences go far beyond grid connections. As distributed solar and storage spread, each installation becomes both a source of clean energy and a potential flexible resource.
NESO’s plan aims to create the digital conditions that allow these assets to communicate with each other and with the power grid. That means comprehensive asset tracking, real-time monitoring and seamless data sharing between system operators, aggregators and consumers. In doing so, it transforms solar energy from a passive generator into an active participant in a responsive, data-driven energy system.
Why digitalization matters
Digitalization underpins every aspect of a smarter, more efficient transition. It provides insight into which assets exist, what they do and how they interact with the electricity grid.
Britain can learn a lot from Australia, where the rapid growth of rooftop solar initially caused grid instability as system operators lacked visibility and control over millions of distributed systems. Only after significant investments in digital grid management – real-time monitoring, automated control and improved data exchange – could stability be restored.
Britain is now at a similar turning point. Now that solar energy capacity is set to increase significantly, the digital foundations must be laid early to prevent similar challenges.
These foundations must include increasing the rollout of smart meters, which, while around 70% of UK households have them, will need to increase to almost 90% to unlock the full value of an integrated electricity grid.
They must also ensure interoperability between the different elements of the energy ecosystem. To this end, industry and government must agree on interoperability standards by 2027 to ensure that inverters, batteries and monitoring systems can communicate effectively between manufacturers. This standardization is essential to prevent consumers from being locked into proprietary ecosystems and to enable broad participation in flexibility markets.
Smart meters, combined with interoperable devices, will enable a system in which generation and consumption-related data flows continuously, supporting both network management and market participation.
Core objectives of the NESO plan
At its core, the NESO Sector Digitalization Plan 2025 is about building trust, transparency and efficiency across the entire energy system.
It sets out clear actions for how data should be collected, shared and protected. These include accelerating the development of asset registers and digital interfaces for flexibility markets, improving forecasting capabilities through AI and machine learning, and modernizing control rooms so operators can anticipate changes in supply and demand with greater precision.
Another key part of the plan focuses on consumer experience and consent. By 2030, one in four households is expected to have an electric vehicle, millions of households will own a heat pump and rooftop solar energy with home batteries will be commonplace. Managing that complexity requires a unified approach to allowing and sharing data. A single, coherent consumer consent service will enable households to control how their data is used, while giving service providers the confidence to innovate within clear privacy frameworks.
Cyber security and resilience are equally central. The plan calls on organizations to prepare for the emerging benefits and threats of quantum computing by 2028 and adopt secure firmware update practices to protect long-lived assets such as solar panels and inverters. These measures are critical to maintaining trust and protecting the integrity of the energy system for decades to come.
Consequences for the solar sector
For solar energy operators, the NESO Plan represents both an opportunity and an obligation. Digital readiness is now fundamental to participating in the clean energy system.
Accurate data on production, voltage and flexibility potential will be needed to connect, operate and trade efficiently.
Improved forecasting will allow operators to manage production and participate in balancing markets with much greater precision.
At the same time, digital connectivity opens up new revenue streams. Solar energy combined with battery storage can provide valuable flexibility services, but only if the digital infrastructure allows these assets to be visible, manageable and secure.
Digitalization also supports better asset performance. Real-time monitoring and analytics can identify underperformance or errors more quickly, reducing downtime and improving returns.
For developers, the message is clear: future-proofing a project means investing now in data infrastructure, interoperable hardware and robust cybersecurity.
Challenges and opportunities ahead
Despite the plan’s strengths, challenges remain. Achieving the necessary digital infrastructure within the next five years will require coordinated action from manufacturers, installers, network operators and policy makers.
Aligning interoperability standards without stifling innovation will require a careful balance.
Cybersecurity obligations will need to be embedded throughout the supply chain, and new governance frameworks will be needed to manage data rights, liability and consumer protection.
Yet the opportunities are enormous. NESO estimates that digital transformation could reduce utility operating costs by up to 25%, with predictive maintenance alone saving the UK economy more than £5 billion by 2030. For the solar sector, these benefits translate into lower operating costs, improved performance and smoother integration with the broader energy system.
The ongoing needs of the industry
It is now clearer than ever that regulation and governance must keep pace with technology. The sector needs binding frameworks for data sharing and interoperability. Contractual clarity between developers, equipment suppliers and service providers will be key to managing risks and ensuring long-term resilience. Skills development, open standards and consumer protection must be prioritized to ensure digitalisation works for everyone, from large operators to households with roof panels.
The NESO Sector Digitalization Plan 2025 is an important step towards creating a truly intelligent, carbon-free electricity system. It recognizes that the UK’s clean energy ambitions depend as much on bytes as on kilowatts. For the solar sector, it provides a clear roadmap: digital capacity is no longer optional, but integral to connecting, functioning and thriving in Britain’s clean energy future.
The next five years will determine whether data becomes the key that unlocks decarbonization, or the bottleneck that holds it back.
