Mapping renewable energy potential

In order to promote renewable energy uptake in the public and private sector the first step is to determine what is currently installed. In 2012, Dublin’s Energy Agency Codema worked with a consultant to create an interactive google map highlighting the renewable energy sites in Dublin. The agency later completed a Spatial Energy Demand Analysis for the entire Dublin region thus providing the information required for the local authorities to increase the uptake of renewable energy through planning, policy and awareness-raising.

Project in a Nutshell

Prior to this initiative there was no definitive database detailing type, location and size of renewable technology. The Codema energy agency thus commissioned a number of initiatives to address this gap. An interactive map was created showing known renewable installations. Additionally, the agency commissioned a number of site visits to known installations to determine how they performed and whether they could be maximised. Finally, based on these findings, Codema published a report with conclusions and recommendations toward increased uptake of renewables.

Impact & Next steps

The renewable map was initially used to prepare a Market Assessment of Renewable Energy in 2013 and more recently (2015-2016) it anticipated Codema Spatial Energy Demand Analysis (SEDA) for the entire Dublin region, including through the identification of areas suitable for renewable energies for Dublin City, Dublin South, Fingal County and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County. According to Codema, each of the SEDAs aims to provide the information required for local authorities to increase the uptake of renewable energy through planning, policy and awareness-raising. Today the map has been updated by Codema to include Dublin local authority buildings, but may not be fully up to date for other types of buildings.

Prior to this work, the local authorities have lacked any evidence-based tools for planning for sustainable energy solutions. Codema concluded that ‘a SEDA is able to bridge the gap between energy planning and traditional urban planning within the local authority, and enables planners to build meaningful energy policy and effectively shape the energy-future of the city’.