Developing Southeast Asia Solar Resource Data to Support the Clean Energy Transition in the Region

Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has developed a high-resolution solar resource data set for the entire Southeast Asia region. This data set, available on the RE Data Explorer platform, provides critical information for decision-making in the clean energy transition. The data set covers a five-year period from 2015 to 2019, with a spatial resolution of 2 kilometers and a temporal resolution of 10 minutes. The data set was developed using the Physical Solar Model (PSM Version 3), which employs a physics-based approach to model the radiative transfer of solar irradiance through the atmosphere. The model relies on high-resolution cloud properties derived from imagery provided by the Japanese Meteorological Agency's Himawari weather satellite. The data set was validated using ground measurements across Southeast Asia and Oceania and meets high levels of accuracy similar to other data sets produced with the PSM. The RE Data Explorer platform provides access to the solar resource data, as well as other critical data layers such as land use and environmental data, for not only the Southeast Asia region but all countries in the world. The platform offers a range of analysis tools, including Technical Potential, Cost of Energy Mapping, and PV Watts, to support renewable energy decision-making. The data can be accessed directly from the RE Data Explorer, either by utilizing the application map viewer or by downloading the data in multiple formats, including GeoJSON, Shapefile, CSV, and GeoPackage. The RE Data Explorer is a publicly available, intuitive, best-in-class geospatial analysis platform that provides quick and convenient access to high-quality geospatial data and analysis capabilities for informed renewable energy decision-making. The platform is designed to support a wide range of users, from project developers and investors to technical planners and policymakers, and offers customizable visualization and analysis of renewable energy potential for different scenarios. The platform also provides links between data, analysis, and decisions through curated knowledge products, training resources, and an "Ask an Expert" service to provide customized support. The solar resource data set and the RE Data Explorer platform are expected to support the clean energy transition in Southeast Asia by providing critical information for decision-making. The data set and platform can be used to assess system performance, estimate plant costs, and inform planning decisions, as well as to support solar energy market expansion and inform prospecting, target setting, renewable energy auctions, and other high-impact decisions.