Energy Assessments
NREL provides global sustainability assessments, worldwide energy assessments, resource assessments, and policy best practices outreach.
Geospatial Toolkits
NREL developed the Geospatial Toolkit (GsT) — a map-based software application that integrates resource data and geographic information systems (GIS) — for integrated resource assessment. Access the Geospatial Toolkits page for toolkits on countries including Brazil, China, and Ghana; and toolkits and resource maps for Afghanistan, Bhutan, Northwest India, and Pakistan.
Resource Maps
NREL has developed high-resolution resource maps and data products for individual countries using its Geospatial Toolkit. Product pages are available for the following countries:
Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment
In cooperation with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), NREL has produced high-resolution maps and data sets of solar and wind energy resources for the Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA). The resource data are integrated into a geographic information systems (GIS) framework that allows the resource data to be combined with key geographic and demographic data, including:
- Political boundaries
- Terrain characteristics
- Location of load centers
- Power facilities
- Transmission lines.
NREL has been involved with SWERA activities in:
- Guatemala
- Nicaragua
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Cuba
- Brazil
- Ghana
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- China
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka.
Biomass Resource Assessment
Biomass resource assessments quantify the existing or potential biomass material in a given area. NREL evaluates biomass resources statistically and spatially using geographic information systems (GIS) and other techniques. This analysis examines the amount of resources available or potentially available in a region, as well as their geographic distribution. Access the Biomass Resource Assessment page for more on NREL's work in this area.
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
NREL and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) are collaborating on analytic work, specifically in cooperative work on the Global Energy Assessment.
