Developing and emerging nations face serious energy challenges and renewable energy sources represent key resources that they need to exploit. Many of these countries have abundant renewable resources but at the same time have substantial portions of their population without any access to electricity.
There is a real shortage of sufficiently detailed resource data in many countries. A clear example is that of Pakistan. Pakistan has a comprehensive plan to deploy renewable energy, has abundant solar, wind and biomass resources, and yet has very few projects underway.
Without detailed mapping data on solar radiation and wind resources, governments and private sector organizations are not able to identify specific sites for development.
To deal with this issue, the World Bank has joined up with Pakistan and 8 other countries in a new Renewable Energy Mapping Program (REMAP) that will produce the kind of detailed nationwide data that is required to get renewable programs underway. This extensive high-resolution mapping effort will be coordinated and financed by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.
The countries participating in the program include Pakistan, Vietnam, and Zambia. For these developing nations, the ability to increase the share of their energy powered by domestic, renewable sources is a critical component in their physical and financial security.
REMAP is one of several World Bank initiatives that are part of the global Sustainable Energy for All campaign that seeks to double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Web Links
Renewable Energy Mapping
Photo, taken on May 2, 2010, courtesy of Jonathan Doig via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.