Aretian research team published in Nature’s Scientific Data

Aretian is proud to announce that research involving our team members Ramon Gras and Bernat Salvanyà has been published in Nature Portfolio’s, Nature’s prestigious Scientific Data journal. The study presents the first comprehensive, publicly available dataset mapping electric distribution networks across seven northeastern states, representing a major step forward in understanding and improving America’s energy infrastructure.

Subject of study

Until now, detailed data about how electricity actually reaches homes and businesses has been scattered, inconsistent, and hard to access. This research changes that by pulling together information from utilities across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont into one standardized, open resource. The researchers created a kind of Google Maps for the electric grid. The dataset includes nearly 4 million line segments covering over 72% of the region’s population. Each segment includes critical information like capacity for solar panels and electric vehicle charging, voltage levels, and connections to specific neighborhoods identified by census tracts.

Figure 1. US Northeast Electric Distribution Network. Polylines depict cleaned edges (feeder segments derived from utility hosting capacity layers after harmonization) and nodes (intersections, substations, endpoints).

By the Numbers

3.9 million	Electric line segments mapped and analyzed
7 states	Coverage area across the US Northeast
72%	Of the region’s population covered by the data
100%	Free and open—anyone can access and use the data

The impact of this study

As we work toward cleaner energy and electric transportation, understanding our grid’s capacity and limitations becomes crucial. This dataset helps answer questions that affect everyone:

• Where can neighborhoods add solar panels or EV chargers without overloading the system?

• Which communities have aging infrastructure that needs urgent upgrades?

• Are some neighborhoods underserved compared to others when it comes to grid capacity and reliability?

• How resilient is the grid to storms, heat waves, and other climate impacts?

By linking grid data to census information, researchers can now study energy equity, ensuring that all communities, regardless of income or location, have access to reliable, modern electricity infrastructure.

Real-world applications

• City planners and policymakers can use this data to identify where to prioritize infrastructure investments and plan for the integration of renewable energy and electric vehicles;

• Utilities and regulators can benchmark performance across different regions and identify best practices for grid modernization; 

• Researchers and advocates can analyze disparities in energy infrastructure and advocate for equitable upgrades that benefit underserved communities;

• Developers and businesses can identify optimal locations for solar installations, EV charging stations, and energy storage based on actual grid capacity.

About the Research Team

The study was led by three researchers who brought together expertise in business analytics, data science, and engineering:

• Ramon Gras from Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Founder and CEO of Aretian, brought deep knowledge of infrastructure systems and urban analytics;

• Bernat Salbanya from TBS Business School in France led the data integration and analysis work;

• Jordi Nin from Ramon Llull University’s ESADE in Spain contributed expertise in complex systems and data science.

This work aligns with Aretian’s mission to leverage data and technology for better decision-making in critical infrastructure. As we transition to cleaner energy sources and electrify transportation, having transparent, accessible data about our grid becomes essential for making smart investments and ensuring no community is left behind. The research team made everything publicly available - the data, the analysis tools, and the methodology - so that others can build on this work. This open approach accelerates innovation and ensures that insights benefit the broadest possible audience. “By bridging complex network theory with spatial infrastructure mapping, this dataset enables a multidimensional assessment of electric grid performance, sustainability, and equity,” the researchers write. “It allows researchers and policymakers to explore the links between urban development patterns, network structure, and energy outcomes.”

ACCES TO THE PUBLICATION

Looking Ahead

The methodology developed for the Northeast can be applied to other regions across the country and internationally. As more areas are mapped and analyzed, we’ll build a comprehensive understanding of our energy infrastructure’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.

The team envisions future research integrating real-time usage data, climate vulnerability assessments, and detailed engineering specifications to create even more powerful planning tools for the energy transition.