The World Bank is setting up stations that measure the renewable energy potential in many developing countries to give investors confidence to enter more markets.
The $22.5 million Renewable Energy Resource Mapping program will place multiple stations in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia.
Using measures such as solar radiance, wind speeds, GIS analysis and geospatial planning, it will map the potential for small hydro, biomass, wind and solar energy. The data will be freely available in near real-time through the Global Atlas for Renewable Energy.
How can countries expand electricity generation from renewables if they have little information on its potential, on geographic concentration, or seasonal and daily availability?
"Mapping national renewable energy resources is a crucial step in expanding investment into clean energy, by providing governments with the information to strategically guide commercial development, establish pricing incentives, and take account of environmental and social constraints, says The World Bank, which is calling for governments to break out of taking small, incremental steps on climate change.
The program is expected to run or at least four years.
Read our article, IRENA Launches World Renewable Energy Atlas.
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