Toward renewable energy geo-information infrastructures: Applications of GIScience and remote sensing that build institutional capacity

Kirby Calvert (), Joshua Pearce and W. E. Mabee
Additional contact information
Kirby Calvert: Queen's University [Kingston, Canada]
W. E. Mabee: Queen's University [Kingston, Canada]

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: Sustained policy support is necessary in order to drive a transition toward renewable energy (RE). The ability to realize RE policy objectives with minimal impact on policy goals outside of the RE domain is constrained by a range of geographic factors related to resource potential, the distribution of resources, land availability / suitability, the absorptive capacity of proximal infrastructure, and local socio-political acceptance. With this in mind, this paper provides a systematic review of how geographic information science and remote sensing techniques have been applied to reduce uncertainties surrounding renewable energy development, with emphasis on policy and planning needs. The concept of a 'geo-information infrastructure' is used to bring coherence and direction to this growing body of literature. The review highlights four underdeveloped research areas, including: resolving issues of scalar discordance through comprehensive analysis at local and regional scales; mapping interactions in space of multiple supply options to deliver more accurate and sophisticated estimates of RE potential in an area and to identify competitive and symbiotic land-use situations; using energy resource maps as primary inputs into the development of technology road-maps; and developing geographically explicit indicators which can signal priority areas for RE recovery based on social and environmental returns on investments. In each case, suggestions moving forward are provided. The paper identifies knowledge-based institutional networking as a pathway through which local and regional public authorities can be equipped with the resources necessary to build and mobilize a geo-information infrastructure.

Keywords: renewable energy; geo-information; GIS; constraint analysis; methodological scale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02120459
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

Published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, 18, pp.416-429. ⟨10.1016/j.rser.2012.10.024⟩

Downloads: (external link)
https://hal.science/hal-02120459/document (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Toward renewable energy geo-information infrastructures: Applications of GIScience and remote sensing that build institutional capacity (2013)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02120459

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.10.024

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().