Renewable Energy Data, Analysis, and Decisions: A Guide for Practitioners

Geospatial data and analysis are critical to enabling renewable energy decisions and overcoming barriers to clean energy deployment. Diverse stakeholders use data and analysis to inform decisions related to setting targets, policies, investment, and grid integration. Further, data- and evidence-driven decisions help make markets transparent and fair for all actors. This guide provides an overview of geospatial data and analysis to support renewable energy decisions in four areas: target setting, policymaking, investment, and power sector planning. In addition, links among data, analysis, and decisions are highlighted to provide perspective on decision-making at various stages of renewable energy development. These links also shed light on the complexity of and data needs for different types of analysis and decisions. Equipped with this information, decision-makers can support increased renewable energy deployment within the context of specific country and jurisdictional circumstances.