IRENA: New Smartphone App Delivers Global Renewable Energy Data

Smartphone users can now access the most reliable data on global renewable energy potential, for free, thanks to an application launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

The Global Atlas pocket, now available on all platforms including BlackBerry® 10, iOS, Android™ and Windows Phone®, is the only global tool of its kind, combining 1,000 maps from 67 governments and 50 data centres to provide information on renewable energy resources anywhere in the world.

“One of the major hurdles to worldwide renewable energy deployment is to mobilise investment flows commensurate with global needs,” said Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General. “The Global Atlas pocket helps bring more investment certainty to renewable energy prospectors and investors. Users can freely access data from geothermal potentials in the Caribbean to solar potentials in the Middle East and anything in between. It is an incredibly powerful tool.”

The app turns mobile devices into renewable energy prospectors and can help answer questions like: Can renewable energy power 100 per cent of this island? What percentage of this city can be powered by solar energy? If I want to invest in a wind power project, where are the highest potential locations?

It allows user to screen renewable energy project sites before making investment decision, create content on clean energy potentials in areas of interest and access images of growth areas for renewable energy infrastructure opportunities. It also comes with a powerful combination of search functionalities including geolocation services, personalized search categories, map views and sharing capabilities.

The Global Atlas pocket is the mobile version of the online Global Atlas portal, which aims to provide access to the necessary datasets, expertise and financial support to help countries evaluate their national renewable energy potential.