Data Story telling: Real world data use case using Tableau

As countries shift towards sustainable solutions, energy consumption remains a vital issue. Fluctuations in fossil fuel use, particularly during peak months, can affect energy security, costs, and emissions. Using Tableau, we can transform a simple dashboard into a powerful data narrative.

This is the dashboard I published on Tableau Public, where I employed a highly minimalistic method to design a dashboard from a very limited dataset.

Great Britain's national grid energy consumption overview: Renewable sources lead with 37.05% of the 1,567 GW demand, while fossil fuels represent 28.35% as of January 2025. The fossil fuel breakdown chart highlights notable increases, with November 2024 peaking at 51.90 GW.

I'm thrilled to share that I've revamped the dashboard and woven a captivating narrative to showcase how I unearthed insights using data storytelling techniques!

Check out the updated version of the dashboard, packed with numerous insights and the impactful method I used to make a difference!

Data Story using Tableau

So now lets Analyze

Analyzing Great Britain’s Energy Consumption Trends Using Tableau

In today’s data-driven world, visual analytics plays a crucial role in understanding energy consumption trends. Using Tableau, I have created an interactive National Grid Energy Consumption Dashboard for Great Britain. This dashboard provides deep insights into energy usage patterns, fossil fuel dependency, and the role of renewable energy sources.

Overview of Energy Consumption

Main Landing page of the dashboard

The dashboard begins with a summary of total energy demand (1,567 GW), categorized into four major sources:

• Renewables (37.05%) – A major contributor to clean energy.

• Fossil Fuels (28.35%) – Traditional energy sources remain significant.

• Other Sources (21.97%) – Includes nuclear, hydro, and other energy forms.

• Transfers (12.64%) – Electricity exchanged between grids.

This breakdown helps us understand the country’s reliance on different energy sources and highlights areas where sustainable energy strategies can be improved.

2. Energy Consumption Trends Over Time

A time-series analysis was conducted to track energy source trends from January 2024 to January 2025. Key observations include:

• Renewable energy (green line) sees peaks during certain months, likely due to increased wind and hydroelectric production.

• Fossil fuels (black line) fluctuate but remain an essential part of the grid.

• Transfers and other sources are relatively stable but show slight variations.

Key Questions in this Slide:

• What are the primary drivers of fluctuations in renewable energy production?

• How does fossil fuel consumption compare to previous years?

Understanding these trends helps stakeholders in the energy sector plan for seasonal demands and optimize resource allocation.

3. Fossil Fuel Consumption Breakdown

The ups and downs for fossil fuels. The red color bar shows spikes.

The dashboard’s fossil fuel analysis reveals significant consumption spikes:

• February 2024 (+390%) – Unusual increase, possibly due to supply chain disruptions or policy shifts.

• September 2024 (+101.6%) – Winter demand surges due to heating needs.

  
  

Key Questions in this Slide:

• What caused the sudden spike in fossil fuel consumption in February 2024?

• How can policymakers reduce dependence on fossil fuels in peak seasons?

These insights are crucial for policymakers looking to reduce fossil fuel dependence and promote cleaner energy alternatives.

4. Other Energy Sources Breakdown

The blue line shows data for Other Sources

An alternative energy breakdown was also explored, showing:

• April 2024 saw a 71.8% increase in alternative energy use, possibly due to policy incentives or increased nuclear/hydropower production.

• Variations in non-fossil fuel sources indicate that the transition to renewables is happening but needs further reinforcement.

Key Questions in this Slide:

• What policies contributed to the rise in alternative energy use in April 2024?

• How can alternative energy sources be scaled up further?

5. Key Insights & Policy Recommendations

Recommendations

Based on the analysis, here are some strategic recommendations:

• Expand Renewable Investments: Encouraging wind, solar, and hydro projects to stabilize energy supply.

• Improve Energy Storage Solutions: Investing in battery technology to manage seasonal fluctuations.

• Enhance Grid Infrastructure: Strengthening energy networks to ensure efficient distribution.

• Reduce Fossil Fuel Dependency: Implementing policies that gradually phase out non-renewable energy sources.

6. The Significance of Using Questions in Story Points

Adding questions in each story point serves multiple purposes:

• Encourages deeper analysis: Instead of just presenting data, questions prompt stakeholders to think critically.

• Engages the audience: Viewers interact more with the data when they are encouraged to find answers.

• Drives actionable insights: Helps policymakers, businesses, and researchers identify gaps and solutions.

• Enhances storytelling: Questions add a narrative element, making the analysis more engaging and thought-provoking.

Conclusion

The Great Britain National Grid Energy Dashboard provides actionable insights into the country’s energy consumption patterns. With data-driven decision-making, we can move towards a more sustainable and efficient energy future.

You can download the workbook here : https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/adityakumbhavdekar/viz/GreatBritainEnergyConsumptionDataStorytelling/NationalGrid?publish=yes