Categorising residential energy demand datasets in the UK

Access to high-quality residential energy demand data is crucial for research and policymaking. In the transition to a modern, digitalised energy system, datasets should be visible and accessible to end users. However, the absence of standardised data release guidelines and metadata standards creates challenges in data visibility, accessibility, and comparability. These challenges lead to repetitive and time-consuming searches for relevant datasets. This study examines twenty-four UK residential energy demand datasets, highlighting inconsistencies in how they are catalogued, documented, and structured. A novel classification scheme is introduced to systematically document dataset attributes, scope, and contextual variables. Subsequent categorisation of the twenty-four datasets using the classification scheme enhances data discovery, comparability, and consistency, while also identifying gaps. This article also addresses the evolving landscape of residential energy demand datasets and policy and the role of data in supporting efforts to decarbonise the building stock. This work highlights the need for greater standardisation and accessibility, emphasising the importance of harmonised metadata, improved documentation, and cross-dataset compatibility to support future research and policymaking.