New open-source GIS-based Mapping Tool for Off-Grid Applications
IFC–working closely with the World Bank–has recently launched an online tool to help develop off-grid energy projects in Sub Saharan Africa: the ‘Off-Grid Market Opportunity Tool’, which can be found at http://offgrid.energydata.info/.
| The database platform behind the tool’s interface (https://energydata.info/) builds on open geospatial data to provide a high level view of where markets for off-grid electrification may exist based on a number of parameters.
Made available as an open source software, users can improve on the tool’s functionalities by building on the code. Users can also produce more accurate results by exporting analyses generated by the tool and combining them with other data.
With over one billion people around the world still deprived of access to electricity, off-grid technologies and business models are emerging as part of the solution to closing the energy access gap. We believe that tools such as this can help to better assess market potential as well as provide data on characteristics and key attributes in different geographic regions, allowing project developers and policy-makers to scale up off-grid initiatives. The geographical focus of the tool is currently limited to Sub-Saharan Africa but may be expanded in the future. |
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February 2, 2017
