Keywords
gis, rural electrification, renewable energy, decentralized generation
Start Date
1-7-2008 12:00 AM
Abstract
Since 1994, CIEMAT has been involved in several research activities regardingthe integration of renewable energy sources (RES) as well as resource assessment based onGeographic Information Technologies. One of the first projects was SOLARGIS whichaimed to demonstrate the viability of applying GIS to the RES integration in ruralelectrification programs. This research line has been improved since then, through thepermanent actualization and update of the methodology. In this sense, the collaborationwith UPM (Polytechnic University of Madrid) has been decisive. Nowadays, CIEMAT GISteam is applying this methodology to Latin America countries like Cuba or Colombia, inthe general framework of Renewable Energy Integration GIS Project (INTI-GIS). Inaddition to GIS application for rural electrification research line, our team has alsoaccomplished resource assessments and siting studies for distributed electrical generationbased on RES. On this topic, CIEMAT has developed several projects like MERSOTERM,SOLBIO and others related to biomass or wind resource assessment. Finally, in order topromote RES, our team has collaborated in the accomplishment of projects aimed to definea feasible technology mix based on renewables, like SIGER project, or Decision SupportSystems (DSS) supporting the decision-making for a sustainable development based onhigh penetration of RES in Latin-American countries like Colombia. According to ourexperience, we strongly believe that GIS technology constitutes a powerful tool in order topromote and integrate renewable energy sources in the path of a new energy internationalmodel more respectful with the environment and also with the sustainable development ofthe society.
Research activities in renewable energy sources integration with GIS at CIEMAT
Since 1994, CIEMAT has been involved in several research activities regardingthe integration of renewable energy sources (RES) as well as resource assessment based onGeographic Information Technologies. One of the first projects was SOLARGIS whichaimed to demonstrate the viability of applying GIS to the RES integration in ruralelectrification programs. This research line has been improved since then, through thepermanent actualization and update of the methodology. In this sense, the collaborationwith UPM (Polytechnic University of Madrid) has been decisive. Nowadays, CIEMAT GISteam is applying this methodology to Latin America countries like Cuba or Colombia, inthe general framework of Renewable Energy Integration GIS Project (INTI-GIS). Inaddition to GIS application for rural electrification research line, our team has alsoaccomplished resource assessments and siting studies for distributed electrical generationbased on RES. On this topic, CIEMAT has developed several projects like MERSOTERM,SOLBIO and others related to biomass or wind resource assessment. Finally, in order topromote RES, our team has collaborated in the accomplishment of projects aimed to definea feasible technology mix based on renewables, like SIGER project, or Decision SupportSystems (DSS) supporting the decision-making for a sustainable development based onhigh penetration of RES in Latin-American countries like Colombia. According to ourexperience, we strongly believe that GIS technology constitutes a powerful tool in order topromote and integrate renewable energy sources in the path of a new energy internationalmodel more respectful with the environment and also with the sustainable development ofthe society.
