the public benefit of open grid data

[Tom Brown]

Dear open-minded modelling folks,

I've been getting a lot of questions in the last few months about
security aspects around open grid data (following the Berlin blackout
and the EU's Grids Package), which often misunderstand the actual
security threat and don't see the huge public benefit.

So I've put together the arguments in a CC-BY blog post:

https://nworbmot.org/blog/open-grid-data.html

There's an FAQ at the end which I can extend over time if you have more
examples, more questions, or other feedback.

Thanks!

Best,

Tom

PS Also linked from some social media walled gardens.



--
Tom Brown (he/him)
Professor of Digital Transformation in Energy Systems
Institute of Energy Engineering
Technische Universität Berlin

Group website: https://www.tu.berlin/en/ensys
Personal website: https://nworbmot.org/

[Ludwig Hülk]

Hi openmod,

thanks for the great blog post Tom.
On the Research Network Event this week we discussed this issue in great detail.
We have identified, that this is not only discussed at EU level, but also in German ministries (BMWE) and at different grid operators.
In a current research project, a partner is not sharing grid data anymore and blocking our research.

To have a consolidated community view on this I set up a petition / supporter list and invite everybody to sign and get involved.
Thanks to Tom and Berit for the initial commit.

One open task is to discuss and define the data that must be kept secret.
Tom listed the following:

Some data should not be shared: There is no public benefit to sharing information on
security protocols, software versions, locations of security cameras, or the exact pathways of underground cables and pipelines. This data would help our adversaries and should remain private.

I only doubt the geolocation of cables but think we can go into more detail here as a community effort.
By listing everything critical, we can apply and use this petition to argue for releasing and licensing of additional energy data that is not critical at all.

Ludwig

👉 Sign the petition and share it with your network. https://tally.so/r/xX08eE

Forum thread:
https://forum.openmod.org/t/open-energy-grid-data-petition-and-supporter-list/5720

Impressions from the workshop:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ludwig-h%C3%BClk-2402381b6_ich-finde-es-%C3%A4rgerlich-wenn-open-science-activity-7455317738601971712-v9NH?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADI5YlABnH4yYKwPtcrWDr0prjOaMaywDuA




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Subject: [External][openmod-initiative] the public benefit of open grid data

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[Ludwig Hülk]

Dear Petition Signers, Dear Openmod,

Thank you for signing the Open Grid Data petition, and for the feedback some of you have shared on the forum or via mail.
I'm genuinely grateful for the engagement and the positive feedback.

One important point has come up: several signatories felt they didn't fully understand what they were signing for.
I'd like to fix that – and I need your help.


WHAT I'M ASKING FOR

I'd like to consolidate a clear, well-argued document by 11 May 2026. To get there, I'm inviting you to join a short collaborative discussion on wording, framing, and a few open questions.

The most pressing open question is the section "What should NOT be published".

The current draft mentions the exact routes of underground cables as an example of data that should remain confidential. This has been challenged: knowing where underground cables run is also essential for preventing accidents during construction works. A well-known case: the 2019 Berlin Köpenick blackout, where an excavator cut through cables (two 110kV) on a bridge because they were not in the plans. That left 30,000 people without power for up to 31 hours. Link: https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/ein-jahr-blackout-in-berlin-koepenick-passiert-halt-100.html

So the question becomes: is underground cable routing data a security risk or a safety necessity?
I don't think there's a clean answer yet, and I'd love your input.
Having a community view on "What needs to be protected" helps to argue "But this needs to be open!"

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

This petition is directly relevant to several active processes:

1. EU – European Grids Package: We should feed into current discussions and reach out to MEPs.
2. DE – HEDWIG (BNetzA): The public consultation is open until 13 May 2026. Link: https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/ElektrizitaetundGas/Hedwig_111g/start.html
3. Research projects: Many of you (for example the RLI) have experienced first-hand how hard it is to obtain grid data from partners and network operators. Your examples strengthen the case.
4. DE – CYANE funding call (BMWE): Expected to launch in late 2026, our document could support project discussions. https://www.energieforschung.de/de/foerderung/foerderangebote/innovationswettbewerb-systematische-cyberresilienz


HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

Please use this Etherpad for collaborative editing: https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/fne2026-Petition-OpenEnergyGridData

See the openmod forum for additional discussions: https://forum.openmod.org/t/open-energy-grid-data-petition-and-supporter-list/5720/4

PLEASE HELP:
• Suggested rewording of any section that felt unclear
• Your view on the underground cable question
• Any examples from your own work where lack of open data caused problems

All input will be credited unless you prefer otherwise.
Target: consolidated document ready by 11 May 2026.
Currently there are 31 signatures. Goal is have more than 99.

Thank you again. Our signature matters, and your expertise matters even more.

Ludwig Hülk

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/openmod-initiative/VI1PR05MB7136D877B05244A8FB002D25AF352%40VI1PR05MB7136.eurprd05.prod.outlook.com.

[Robbie Morrison]

Hello all

The draft open letter has moved to the openmod forum under a private subcategory:

• https://forum.openmod.org/t/draft-open-letter-on-energy-grid-data/5740

You will need trust level 2 (TL2) or better to access and edit.  Almost all subscribers will have this status.

The submission deadline for the German BNetzA network regulator is Wednesday 13 May 2026 business hours.

Please note that we may later circulate this letter to other parties, such as the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER).

Please engage as early as possible so that we can suitably consolidate everyone's views.

My apologizes for the compressed time‑frame but that is what circumstances have dictated.

best, Robbie

-- 
Robbie Morrison
Address: Schillerstrasse 85, 10627 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49.30.612-87617