Building an API-First Culture in Energy: Empowering Developers for the Energy Transition

Introduction

The energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need for sustainability and efficiency. As developers and data engineers, we face the challenge of accessing reliable market data without the hassle of scraping government portals or dealing with incompatible formats. The complexity of energy data can be overwhelming, with various sources providing information in different formats, schedules, and naming conventions. This is where an API-first culture becomes essential, enabling us to streamline our workflows and focus on building innovative solutions.

In this blog post, we will explore how Energy API empowers developers to navigate the complexities of energy data. By providing a unified REST API that aggregates wholesale energy market data, Energy API simplifies the process of accessing critical information across multiple commodities, including electricity, natural gas, crude oil, coal, and carbon allowances. We will delve into the key features of the API, demonstrate how to get started, and highlight real-world use cases that showcase its value.

Why Energy API

Energy API stands out in the crowded landscape of energy data solutions for several reasons:

• Unified Data Source: Instead of dealing with multiple sources like OMIE, ENTSO-E, and EIA, Energy API provides a single, normalized REST surface. This means developers can access diverse data types without worrying about different formats or schedules, significantly reducing development time.
• Comprehensive Coverage: With over 39 symbols across six commodity categories, Energy API offers extensive market data. Developers can retrieve information on spot prices, historical series, intraday curves, and more, all through a consistent JSON schema.
• Rapid Development: The API's design allows developers to ship features in hours rather than weeks. By leveraging the same JSON schema for every commodity, teams can focus on building applications rather than spending time on ETL processes.
• Trusted Data Providers: Energy API aggregates data from reputable sources like OMIE, ENTSO-E, and EIA, ensuring that developers have access to reliable and accurate market information.

Quick Start

Getting started with Energy API is straightforward. The base URL for the API is:

https://energy-api.com/api/v1

To make your first request, you will need to include your API key as a query parameter. Here’s an example of how to retrieve the latest prices for Brent Crude and TTF Gas:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/latest \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

The expected JSON response will look like this:

{
"success": true,
"date": "2026-06-11",
"base": "MIXED",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": 74.82,
"TTF_GAS": 38.15
},
"dates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "2026-06-11",
"TTF_GAS": "2026-06-11"
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR"
}
}

In this response, the key fields include:

• success: Indicates whether the request was successful.
• date: The date of the data retrieved.
• base: The base currency for the rates provided.
• rates: An object containing the latest prices for the requested symbols.
• currencies: The currency in which each symbol's price is quoted.

Core Endpoints

Energy API offers a variety of endpoints to cater to different data needs. Here are some of the core endpoints relevant to developers:

1. GET /latest

This endpoint retrieves the most recent price for one or more symbols.

Key Parameters:

• symbols (required): Comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve.
• base (optional): Currency filter for the response.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/latest \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS,EUA_CO2" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"date": "2026-06-11",
"base": "MIXED",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": 74.82,
"TTF_GAS": 38.15,
"EUA_CO2": 67.40
},
"dates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "2026-06-11",
"TTF_GAS": "2026-06-11",
"EUA_CO2": "2026-06-11"
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR",
"EUA_CO2": "EUR"
}
}

Field Explanation:

• rates: Contains the latest prices for each symbol requested.
• currencies: Indicates the currency for each price, allowing for easy conversion and comparison.

2. GET /historical

This endpoint provides prices for all symbols on a specific past date. If the date falls on a non-publishing day, it returns the most recent value before it.

Key Parameters:

• date (required): The date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• symbols (required): Comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve.
• base (optional): Currency filter for the response.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/historical \
--data-urlencode "date=2025-09-15" \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"date": "2025-09-15",
"base": "MIXED",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": 71.45,
"TTF_GAS": 36.20
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR"
}
}

Field Explanation:

• rates: Provides the historical prices for the requested symbols on the specified date.
• currencies: Indicates the currency for each price, ensuring clarity in financial reporting.

3. GET /timeseries

This endpoint retrieves historical series between two dates, making it ideal for charting and trend analysis.

Key Parameters:

• start (required): Start date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• end (required): End date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• symbols (required): Comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve.
• base (optional): Currency filter for the response.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/timeseries \
--data-urlencode "start=2025-01-01" \
--data-urlencode "end=2025-03-31" \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"base": "MIXED",
"start_date": "2025-01-01",
"end_date": "2025-03-31",
"rates": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": {
"2025-01-02": 76.30,
"2025-01-03": 75.90
},
"TTF_GAS": {
"2025-01-02": 46.80,
"2025-01-03": 47.10
}
},
"frequencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "daily",
"TTF_GAS": "daily"
},
"currencies": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": "USD",
"TTF_GAS": "EUR"
}
}

Field Explanation:

• rates: Contains historical prices keyed by date for each symbol, allowing for detailed trend analysis.
• frequencies: Indicates the frequency of the data points, which is crucial for understanding the granularity of the data.

4. GET /fluctuation

This endpoint provides start and end values, absolute change, and percentage change over a specified period.

Key Parameters:

• start (required): Start date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• end (required): End date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
• symbols (required): Comma-separated list of symbols to retrieve.
• base (optional): Currency filter for the response.

cURL Example:

curl -G https://energy-api.com/api/v1/fluctuation \
--data-urlencode "start=2025-01-01" \
--data-urlencode "end=2025-01-31" \
--data-urlencode "symbols=BRENT_CRUDE,TTF_GAS" \
--data-urlencode "api_key=YOUR_API_KEY"

JSON Response:

{
"success": true,
"fluctuations": {
"BRENT_CRUDE": {
"start_value": 76.30,
"end_value": 75.90,
"change": -0.40,
"change_pct": -0.52
},
"TTF_GAS": {
"start_value": 46.80,
"end_value": 47.10,
"change": 0.30,
"change_pct": 0.64
}
}
}

Field Explanation:

• fluctuations: Contains the start and end values for each symbol, along with the absolute and percentage changes, providing insights into market volatility.

Real-World Use Cases

Energy API can be leveraged in various applications to solve real-world problems. Here are three concrete examples:

1. Price Alert System

Developers can build a price alert system that notifies users when the price of a commodity reaches a certain threshold. By utilizing the /latest endpoint, the application can continuously monitor prices and send alerts via email or SMS when specific conditions are met.

2. ESG Dashboard

With the growing emphasis on sustainability, developers can create an ESG dashboard that visualizes carbon intensity data. By using the /carbon-intensity endpoint, teams can display real-time carbon emissions data, helping organizations track their environmental impact and make informed decisions.

3. Cost Calculator

A cost calculator can be developed to estimate monthly energy expenses based on the latest prices. By leveraging the /cost-estimate endpoint, developers can provide users with a simple interface to input their energy consumption and receive an estimated cost based on current market rates.

FAQ

How often does the TTF gas price update?

The TTF gas price updates daily, reflecting the most recent market conditions. Developers can use the /latest endpoint to retrieve the most current price at any time.

Can I get historical energy prices going back 5 years?

Yes, Energy API provides historical data for various symbols. Developers can use the /historical and /timeseries endpoints to access historical prices, allowing for in-depth analysis and reporting.

Does the API support multiple currencies?

Absolutely! Energy API allows developers to specify a base currency for their requests. This means you can retrieve prices in your preferred currency, making it easier to integrate into financial applications.

Conclusion

Building an API-first culture in the energy sector is essential for empowering developers to create innovative solutions that drive the energy transition. With Energy API, developers have access to a unified, reliable source of market data that simplifies the complexities of energy information. By leveraging the API's extensive features and endpoints, teams can focus on building applications that deliver real value to their users.

Whether you're developing a price alert system, an ESG dashboard, or a cost calculator, Energy API provides the tools you need to succeed. Start your journey today and try Energy API for free to experience the benefits of streamlined energy data access.