UK Energy & Carbon API — Grid Carbon Intensity, EPC Ratings & ESG Scoring
ESG reporting is no longer optional. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies to disclose energy and carbon data across their operations. But assembling this data means querying National Grid ESO for carbon intensity, Elexon for generation mix, and the EPC Register for building efficiency — three separate APIs with different authentication and data formats. The Energy & Carbon endpoint unifies them into a single location-level profile and adds a proprietary ESG Score. For sustainability teams, energy consultants, and ESG reporting platforms, it turns a quarterly manual exercise into an automated API call.
What You Get
- •Carbon intensity: current grid carbon in gCO2/kWh with intensity index classification for the postcode region
- •Generation mix: real-time breakdown of electricity generation by source (gas, wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, biomass, imports)
- •Grid data: total UK generation in megawatts with source-level breakdown (standard+ depth)
- •Local efficiency: average EPC rating for the postcode area, distribution across A-G bands, average CO2 emissions per annum (full depth)
- •ESG Score (0-100): proprietary composite of grid carbon intensity and local building efficiency
- •ESG Rating: STRONG / MODERATE / WEAK / POOR classification
Data Sources
National Grid ESO
The National Grid Electricity System Operator’s Carbon Intensity API. Provides real-time and forecast carbon intensity by region, generation mix by fuel type, and demand data. Updated every 5 minutes. The primary data source for Scope 2 emissions reporting.
Elexon BMRS
The Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service operated by Elexon. Provides real-time generation output by fuel type, interconnector flows, demand, and system frequency. The most granular public electricity data in the UK, used by energy traders and system operators.
EPC Register
Energy Performance Certificates for 20M+ UK properties. Each certificate includes energy rating (A-G), CO2 emissions in tonnes per annum, wall/roof/heating descriptions, recommended improvements, and estimated energy costs. Required for all property sales and lettings.
Scoring Algorithm
ESG Score
Composite of grid carbon intensity (lower = better) and local building efficiency (average EPC rating). A postcode in a low-carbon grid region (Scotland, with high wind generation) with average EPC rating B scores significantly higher than one in a high-gas region with average EPC rating E. Designed for Scope 2 and Scope 3 reporting.
Use Cases
CSRD & TCFD Compliance
Companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive need location-level energy and carbon data for their operations. The ESG Score provides a standardised metric across sites. The carbon intensity data feeds directly into Scope 2 emissions calculations. Batch calls across all company locations build a complete energy footprint.
Green Energy Procurement
Energy brokers and large consumers choose tariffs based on grid carbon intensity and generation mix. The endpoint shows in real time whether the local grid is running clean (high wind/solar) or dirty (high gas). Corporate buyers time their energy purchases to periods of low carbon intensity.
Property Energy Retrofit Prioritisation
Social housing providers and landlords with large portfolios prioritise EPC upgrades. The local efficiency data reveals which postcodes have the worst-rated stock and highest CO2 emissions. The 2028 EPC Band C requirement for rented properties makes this data commercially urgent.
Real Estate ESG Due Diligence
Property funds assess the ESG profile of acquisition targets. The ESG Score, combined with EPC distribution, reveals stranding risk — buildings that will become unlettable as minimum energy efficiency standards tighten. A portfolio heavy on F and G-rated stock requires significant capex.
Example
Request
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ "https://www.ukdatapi.com/api/v1/energy/EH1%201YZ?depth=full"
Response
{
"data": {
"location": { "postcode": "EH1 1YZ", "region": "South Scotland" },
"carbon": { "intensity_gco2_kwh": 85, "index": "low", "generation_mix": { "wind": 42.1, "nuclear": 28.5, "gas": 15.2, "hydro": 8.1, "other": 6.1 } },
"grid": { "total_generation_mw": 32500, "mix": { "wind": 12800, "gas": 8200, "nuclear": 6500, "solar": 2100, "hydro": 1400, "imports": 1500 } },
"local_efficiency": { "avg_epc_rating": "C", "distribution": { "A": 2, "B": 18, "C": 35, "D": 28, "E": 12, "F": 4, "G": 1 }, "avg_co2_tpa": 3.1 },
"esg_score": 78,
"esg_rating": "STRONG"
}
}Pricing
| Depth | Credits |
|---|---|
| Summary | 4 |
| Standard | 12 |
| Full | 24 |
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GET /api/v1/location/{postcode}
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