BENZ: A Unified Platform for Navigating the UK's Path to Net Zero
Enhancing Net Zero Strategy with a Cross-Government Data and Analytics Platform
Butterfly Data worked with the UK Government to design and develop Butterfly Effect Net Zero (BENZ) - an Alpha-stage, single-source-of-truth analytics platform to support Net Zero planning.
Over six months, we collaborated with multiple departments to integrate novel datasets, advanced modelling, and strategic foresight tools, enabling a unified view of critical technologies, dependencies, and risks. This platform lays the foundation for data-driven Net Zero policymaking and investment across government.
The Butterfly Challenge
The UK Government needed a clearer, data-driven understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the Net Zero supply chain to successfully meet its 2035 and 2050 Net Zero targets. This required answers to several critical questions which needed answering:
How might we identify and predict which strategic technologies will drive the UK’s Net Zero ambitions?
How might we understand and map the critical supply chains and their geopolitical dependencies, risks, and opportunities?
How might we bring together novel data sources, analytical techniques, and scenario modelling to inform policy and investment decisions?
How might we collaborate with international partners to access leading practices and strengthen global connections essential to the UK’s transition?
To address these challenges and answer the questions, we developed Butterfly Effect Net Zero (BENZ), a single-source-of-truth platform in its Alpha phase, to support cross-government analysis and decision-making.
Our approach focused on integrating novel datasets and analytical methods to support scenario planning and strategic foresight:
Leveraging open-source and proxy datasets to detect trends, surface early warning signals, and explore ‘unknown unknowns’
Applying visualisation and modelling tools to test the impacts of different decisions on Net Zero progress
Building and refining an Alpha product around hypotheses that matter to stakeholders
In collaboration with Intandem and Bays Consulting, we engaged in regular, iterative meetings with government departments, demonstrating progress and collecting input to shape ongoing development. This enabled us to enhance data quality and functionality through real-time collaboration.
The project showcased collective intelligence at scale by engaging government stakeholders, private sector partners, academics, and subject matter experts in a joint effort.
Participating departments in early user testing included:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
Ofgem
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Government Office for Science (Go-Science)
Developing the Butterfly Effect Net Zero (BENZ) Platform
The result is BENZ, an Alpha-stage data and analytics platform providing government departments with a shared, cross-government view of the Net Zero supply chain.
Key benefits:
A unified platform that brings clarity and structure to a complex policy area
Strong validation through user testing across seven departments, with highly positive feedback
A recognised solution to a critical data gap, offering actionable insights that were previously unavailable
Using Collide, our analytics and visualisation platform, BENZ offers a strong foundation for future development. Government users now have a prototype that demonstrates the value of integrated, cross-department data for scenario modelling and strategic decision-making.
The platform is now well-positioned for a Beta phase, where internal datasets and secure hosting environments can be integrated to expand capability and operational use.