Space Technology and Geographic Information Systems Applications in adb projects

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Space Technology and Geographic Information Systems Applications in Asian Development Bank Projects
Solar Energy Development
Project Title
Solar Energy Development
Project Number
TA 8008-UZB
Country
Uzbekistan
Department
Central and West Asia Department/Energy Division
Executing Agency
Ministry of Finance
Sector/Subsector 
Energy/Renewable energy
Amount Approved
$2,250,000
Approval/Completion
16 December 2011/September 2013
Source
http://www.adb.org/projects/45120-001/main
ST/GIS Application
Satellite-based solar energy resource map
ST Data 
Direct Normal Irradiance, Global Horizontal Irradiance, and Diffuse Horizontal 
Irradiance 
ST Cost
Not available
ST Service Providers
3TIER
Users
Scientific-Production Association on Solar Physics, Physical-Technical Institute, and 
Material Science Institute
GIS= geographic information systems, ST = space technology.
Context
The most promising source of renewable energy in Uzbekistan is solar energy. Despite its solar resource 
potential, a pool of solar energy experts, and abundant land on which to develop solar energy, limited 
exposure to modern solar technology and applications have prevented Uzbekistan from effectively 
harnessing its solar resources. In addition, it does not have sufficient reliable solar irradiance data for 
such development. This technical assistance project will contribute to the deployment of solar energy in 
Uzbekistan for both pilot and commercial solar energy projects. 
Contribution of Space Technology and Geographic Information Systems 
A satellite-based solar irradiance dataset and other space-based weather datasets were utilized for the 
project’s models. The solar irradiance dataset is based on actual half-hourly visible satellite imagery 
observations via the broadband visible wavelength channel at a 2 arc-minute resolution. These data 
have been processed to create more than 10 years of hourly Global Horizontal Irradiance, Direct Normal 
Irradiance, and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance data at a horizontal resolution of roughly 3 km. GIS analysis 
was conducted to identify suitable solar power sites.
Result
GIS analysis has resulted in the identification of suitable solar power sites in Uzbekistan. In the end 
there were six proposed suitable sites where meteorological stations could be installed. With the aid of 
space technology and GIS, the following were concluded: (i) More than 20 years of data is available from 
satellites with fair accuracy, (ii) the satellite data needs to be adjusted with high-precision measurements, 
and (iii) GIS analysis with ranking values on resource and infrastructure is a helpful tool for site selection.