SahyadriAbstract
An energy resource that is renewed by nature and whose supply is not
affected by the rate of
consumption is often termed as renewable energy. The need to search for
renewable, alternate and
non-polluting sources of energy assumes top priority for self-reliance
in the regional energy supply.
This demands an estimation of available energy resources spatially to
evolve better management
strategies for ensuring sustainability of resources. The spatial
mapping of availability and demand of
energy resources would help in the integrated regional energy planning
through an appropriate
energy supply–demand matching. This paper discusses the application of
Geographical Information
System (GIS) to map the renewable energy potential talukwise in
Karnataka State, India. Taluk is an
administrative division in the federal set-up in India to implement
developmental programmes like
dissemination of biogas, improved stoves, etc. Hence, this paper
focuses talukwise mapping of
renewable energy (solar, wind, bioenergy and small hydroenergy)
potential for Karnataka using GIS.
GIS helps in spatial and temporal analyses of the resources and demand
and also aids as Decision
Support System while implementing location-specific renewable energy
technologies.
Regions suitable for tapping solar energy are mapped based on global
solar radiation data, which
provides a picture of the potential. Coastal taluks in Uttara Kannada
have higher global solar
radiation during summer (6.31 kWh/m2), monsoon (4.16 kWh/m2) and winter
(5.48 kWh/m2).
Mapping of regions suitable for tapping wind energy has been done based
on wind velocity data, and
it shows that Chikkodi taluk, Belgaum district, has higher potential
during summer (6.06 m/s),
monsoon (8.27 m/s) and winter (5.19 m/s). Mysore district has the
maximum number of small
hydropower plants with a capacity of 36MW. Talukwise computation of
bioenergy availability from agricultural residue, forest, horticulture,
plantation and livestock indicates that Channagiri taluk in
Shimoga district yields maximum bioenergy. The bioenergy status
analysis shows that Siddapur taluk
in Uttara Kannada district has the highest bioenergy status of 2.004
(ratio of bioresource availability
and demand).
2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords : Renewable energy; Spatial
analysis; Solar energy; Wind energy; Hydroenergy; Bioenergy; Energy
demand;
Energy potential; Bioenergy status; GIS 
Citation: Ramachandra T.V. and Shruthi B.V., 2007. Spatial mapping of renewable energy potential, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 11(7):1460-1480.
*Corresponding author.Tel.: +91080 23600985/2293 3099/2293 2506; fax: +91080 23601428/23600085/23600683.
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