Elexon BMRS Generation Scraper

Elexon BMRS Generation Scraper

Scrape GB actual generation data from Elexon BMRS for any UTC time window. Each settlement period comes with its timestamp, generation output, and source. No API key or registration needed. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Elexon BMRS is the official platform for Great Britain's electricity market data, including actual generation output per settlement period. This Actor pulls that data directly from the BMRS API for any UTC time range you specify, returning each settlement period as a flat row. No API key, no registration, no rate-limit headaches.

Who uses it	What they scrape Elexon BMRS for
Energy analysts	Monitor actual generation output against forecasts
Traders	Track generation mix to inform trading decisions
Researchers	Build historical datasets of GB generation
Grid operators	Verify settlement period data for reconciliation

What it does

This Actor collects GB actual generation data from Elexon BMRS for a given UTC time window and returns each settlement period as a flat row.

• 🕒 Time window input: specify any UTC start and end, and the Actor returns every settlement period in that range.
• 📊 Flat row output: each settlement period is one row with its timestamp and generation values, ready for analysis.
• 🔢 Configurable limits: set a maximum number of data points per run to control output size.
• 📁 Multiple export formats: download results as CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

What you can do with Elexon BMRS data

📈 Monitor generation mix.

An energy analyst runs the Actor hourly to track how much electricity is coming from wind, solar, gas, and other sources, then compares it against day-ahead forecasts.

💹 Inform trading decisions.

A power trader pulls the last 24 hours of actual generation to spot deviations from expected output and adjust intraday positions.

🔬 Build research datasets.

A PhD student collects a month of settlement period data to study the impact of weather on renewable generation.

🧾 Reconcile settlement data.

A grid operator verifies that reported generation matches actual output for a specific settlement period by pulling the exact time window.

Why choose this scraper

	What you get
No API key	The BMRS API is public, so you can start scraping immediately without registration.
Settlement period granularity	Each row represents a 30-minute settlement period, the standard unit for GB electricity data.
Flexible time windows	Pull a single hour or a full day of generation data in one run.
Flat, analysis-ready output	Every settlement period is returned as a simple row with consistent fields.

How it compares

No other Store actor targets Elexon BMRS the same way, so the honest comparison is with the alternatives teams actually weigh.

	Elexon BMRS Generation Scraper	Build it in-house	By hand
Setup	Run it now, zero config	Days of engineering	None, but hours per pull
When Elexon BMRS changes	Maintained for you	You fix it	You re-learn the page
Proxies, retries, anti-bot	Built in	Your problem	Browser only
Output	Fixed JSON schema, CSV/Excel export	Whatever you build	Copy-paste
Cost	Pay per result	Engineering time	Analyst hours

Configure the run

Drive the Actor with a UTC time window and an optional maximum data point limit. The Actor returns every settlement period that falls within the window, up to the limit you set. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

{
  "from": "2026-06-06T00:00Z",
  "to": "2026-06-06T03:00Z",
  "maxItems": 10
}

A larger pull:

{
  "from": "2026-06-06T00:00Z",
  "to": "2026-06-06T03:00Z",
  "maxItems": 200
}

Pricing

Pay-per-result: $0.0036 per result collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

Results collected	Approximate cost
100 results	$0.36
1,000 results	$3.60
10,000 results	$36.00

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. Upgrade your Apify plan to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

Run it

1. Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit.
2. Open the Elexon BMRS Generation Scraper.
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click Start.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the Dataset tab.

Run it programmatically through the Apify API (run-sync-get-dataset-items) or the ApifyClient for JavaScript and Python.

Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Elexon BMRS through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

$claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/elexon-bmrs-generation-scraper"

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

Troubleshooting

Why am I getting no results?

Check that your from and to times are in the correct UTC ISO 8601 format and that the window is not in the future. Also ensure that maxItems is set to a positive number.

Why is my run taking so long?

Very long time windows can return many settlement periods. Try narrowing the window or reducing maxItems to speed up the run.

Why are some settlement periods missing?

The BMRS API may not have data for every settlement period, especially for very recent periods or during outages. Check the API status or try a slightly different time window.

Can I scrape data for a specific settlement period only?

Yes. Set the from and to times to cover exactly that 30-minute period. For example, from 2026-06-06T00:00Z to 2026-06-06T00:30Z will return the settlement period starting at midnight.

FAQ

Question	Answer
What is Elexon BMRS?	Elexon BMRS is the Balancing Mechanism Reporting Service, the official platform for Great Britain's electricity market data. It provides actual generation output, demand, and other operational data in 30-minute settlement periods.
Do I need an API key to use this Actor?	No. The BMRS API is publicly accessible, so you can start scraping immediately without any registration or authentication.
What time format should I use for the from and to inputs?	Use UTC ISO 8601 format, for example 2026-06-06T00:00Z. The Actor returns settlement periods that fall within the window you specify.
How many settlement periods can I get in one run?	You can set a maximum number of data points per run, up to 1,000,000. Keep in mind that each settlement period is 30 minutes, so a full day is 48 periods.
What does each row in the output represent?	Each row represents one settlement period, with its timestamp and the actual generation output for that period. The exact fields are shown in the sample output.
Can I export the data to Excel?	Yes. The Actor supports CSV, JSON, Excel, and XML export formats, so you can download the results in the format that works best for your workflow.
Is there a limit on how far back I can scrape?	The BMRS API provides historical data, but the exact range may vary. You can specify any UTC time window, and the Actor will return whatever settlement periods are available for that range.
Does this Actor include demand data?	This Actor focuses on actual generation output. If you need demand data, you may need a different Actor or a custom solution.

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🆘 Need help? Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ Disclaimer. This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Elexon Limited. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.