Skip to content

OpenTech-DB

An Open Energy Ontology (OEO)-aligned database, REST API, and React 19 web frontend for energy generation, storage, transmission, and conversion technologies. Designed to feed real, traceable data into energy modelling frameworks.

Python FastAPI React License: MIT Data: CC BY 4.0 OEO

What is OpenTech-DB?

opentech-db is a domain-specific data repository that provides standardised, source-traced technical and economic parameters for energy system components. Developed at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) THD-Spatial-AI group, it serves as a single source of truth that multiple energy modelling frameworks can query programmatically.

Key capabilities:

  • 55+ energy technologies across generation, storage, transmission, and conversion — all OEO-aligned
  • REST API (FastAPI) with Swagger UI, ReDoc, and OpenAPI JSON
  • Framework adapters for PyPSA, Calliope, OSeMOSYS, and ADOPTNet0
  • Uncertainty-aware parameters — every value carries min, max, source, and year
  • Time-series profile catalogue — hourly capacity factors and load profiles for multiple countries
  • Automated scraper pipeline — pulls data from OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, NREL ATB, IRENA, and more
  • React 19 SPA for browsing, visualising, and contributing data
  • World map view — geographic visualisation of technology instances by country
  • Contributor workflow with ORCID + Supabase authentication and admin review

System Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    React 19 SPA (Frontend)                  │
│   TechGrid · DetailsModal · WorldMap · TimeSeriesViewer     │
│   ContributorWorkspace · AdminPanel · ScraperPanel          │
└──────────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                       │ HTTP / REST
┌──────────────────────▼──────────────────────────────────────┐
│                FastAPI Backend (main.py)                     │
│  /technologies  /adapt  /timeseries  /auth  /scraper        │
│  /admin  /debug  /ontology  /health                         │
└──────┬─────────────────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
       │                                 │
┌──────▼──────────┐         ┌────────────▼──────────────────┐
│  Data Layer     │         │  Scraper Pipeline             │
│  data/*.json    │         │  OpenAlex · Semantic Scholar   │
│  Pydantic v2    │         │  NREL ATB · IRENA · Crossref   │
│  LRU cache      │         │  APScheduler · LLM extract.   │
└─────────────────┘         └───────────────────────────────┘

Live API

The API is publicly accessible — no setup required for read-only access:

Interface URL
Swagger UI http://localhost:8000/docs
ReDoc http://localhost:8000/redoc
OpenAPI JSON http://localhost:8000/openapi.json
Health check http://localhost:8000/health

Documentation

Section Description
Overview Design principles, technology coverage, data sources
Getting Started Installation, Docker, environment variables, quick start
API Reference All REST endpoints with request/response examples
Integration Guide curl, Python, PyPSA, Calliope code examples
Data Model Pydantic schema, OEO alignment, ParameterValue
Data Formats JSON formats, adding new technologies
Framework Adapters PyPSA and Calliope adapters, CRF formula
Scraper Pipeline Automated data acquisition from academic sources
Time-Series Catalogue Hourly profiles, contributor upload
Authentication ORCID OAuth, Supabase auth, admin setup
Web Frontend React SPA views, state management, build instructions

License

Code is released under the MIT License. Data files and documentation content are released under CC BY 4.0. See LICENSE and ATTRIBUTIONS.md in the repository root.