We reconvened the Perseus Technical Infrastructure Advisory Group, chaired by Icebreaker One.

Meeting Aims:

1. Discuss member requirements for synthetic data in the Perseus sandbox
2. Evaluate what requirements existing for sandbox testing
3. Introduce and get feedback on the idea of a dev meetup

Summary:

It was agreed that:

• The Perseus team will formalise the existing readiness-check component into something members can use to demonstrate their integration is tested and working, building on roadmap work already under way.
• an autumn session will be organised, potentially in hackathon format, exploring how the sandbox could support AI coding agents and establishing what currently works.
• AG2 will set up a working group to design a structured approach for extending organisation role information held in the Directory, such as what data an energy data provider can supply.

It was noted that:

• The sandbox exists to let members verify their integration, build confidence ahead of live deployment, and test what cannot be tested in isolation, including correct handling of error responses. Out of scope: simulating system failures, load and performance testing, and standard authentication flows already covered elsewhere.
• Several candidate synthetic data sets exist: the Centre for Net Zero’s Faraday V5 (fully synthetic, modelled on real consumption with property and location parameters), the London Datastore (smaller, built to compare tariff changes), and Open Power System Data (domestic and small business consumption, though needing adaptation for Perseus).

It was discussed that:

• Smart data sharing is front of mind for one member, who described the market as blocked and in need of help to move forward.
• The suggestion that progress requires ICO enforcement or new legislation was not considered to be the best solution, as it relies on intervention from outside the market rather than action within it.
• Data protection uncertainty is often used as a reason to avoid progress altogether. Greater assurance on this point could remove a common blocker to engagement.
• There are concerns that RECCo’s purpose-agnostic approach to data sharing sits in tension with GDPR principles on the scope of permission granted.

Next meeting: Tuesday 6 October 2026 10:00-11:00 BST

Formal records, including attendees, are maintained by the secretariat. 

These are confidential to the Advisory Group Members.