There’s an increasing interest in mapping renewable energy resources, given the boost that such projects have received with additional federal funding. The idea of renewable energy solves many problems at once by reducing both our economic dependence on foreign energy and the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming our planet. The investment in hydro, geothermal, wind, solar and wave energy will require careful consideration about where to best site these investments.

Mapping tools coupled with remote, and on-the-ground, sensors provide the data necessary to site new power plants and design new utility routes. There are many factors to consider when determining the best locations, and conducting a geospatial analysis of the problem requires many different data sets at different scales over time, coupled with energy use information.

Mapping the Sources

GIS provides the means to visualize long-term observations of wind, sun, wave, water and agricultural production. The best sites for different renewable energy options differ widely across the world, with some regions better suited for solar generation and others better suited for wind production, etc.

Many of the observations necessary to determine renewable energy viability are provided as component of weather. Wind speeds have been recorded as a weather observation over time. Solar energy is largely dependent on cloud cover, which can best be calculated based on satellite observation of weather patterns and the amount of clouds that blanket a specific area over time. Hydropower is largely dependent on the amount of moisture and rainfall in a region. And biomass production is dependent on excellent conditions for agriculture, which is also highly weather dependent.

Renewable energy viability is also determined by the lay of the land or topology of a region. The windiest locations on Earth occur where tall coastlines or high mountains meet the ocean, and other high wind areas are at high elevation closer to the jet stream or where tall mountains funnel wind energy into smaller valleys. The best solar production occurs nearest the equator, since there’s more sunlight year round considering these areas don’t drift as far north and south with the seasons. Hydropower is best harnessed where rivers have great elevation changes, because the swifter the current the faster the turbines can be spun, resulting in greater power generation. Much geothermal power is generated from direct use systems, where hot springs indicate direct venting of the heat from the Earth’s core to the surface.

Each of these examples illustrates the location-specific conditions of renewable energy mapping related to earth processes.

Coupling to Needs

There are also geographic considerations that require closer observation of power source to demand, such as population proximity to the energy source and the existence of infrastructure to transport the power. Determining the optimal power sources is just part of the equation, because the location of the best energy sources need to be considered in proximity to demand, and the cost to transport the energy to where it’s needed.

Although water, wind, the sun and other renewables may appear free, their cost comes in collecting, harnessing, and transporting the energy. For example, to utilize energy from water, a dam must be built along with electric generators and transmission lines. And often times the most powerful renewable resources are far from populations, because the conditions for great power from our Earth are often inhospitable for human habitation.

The location of transmission lines is a politically sensitive issue, with a great deal of regulation and public input, because people don’t want transmission lines where they can see them. There are also environmental considerations, potential damage over time from vegetation, and higher costs if the transmission lines have to be routed over physical barriers such as bluffs or rivers. Routing of transmission becomes a considerable component of renewable energy siting due to these factors.

A number of different government and non-government sources are working on calibrated maps that show the best sites for renewable power generation investments. While some locations may seem obvious choices for power generation, making the most of the money available will require a detailed assessment of many geographic factors to make sure that only the optimal sites and energy sources are chosen.

Resources

National Atlas, Renewable Energy Sources in the United States

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Renewable Resources Maps & Data

Colorado Wind Atlas – combines wind reading with power lines and land ownership data

3Tier A wind energy assessment company