Electrification pathways at energydata.info

Every day, governments, private sector and development aid organizations collect data to inform, prepare and implement policies and investments. Yet, while elaborate reports are made public, the data underpinning the analysis remains locked in a computer out of reach. Because of this, the tremendous value it could bring to public and private actors in data-poor environments is too often lost. The open data platform launched recently by The World Bank Group  and several partners is trying to change that, by actively collecting and distributing energy related data either in GIS compatible format of in the form of applications, like the new electrification pathways tool.

The tool considers a variety of open, geospatial data to determine the least-cost options for bringing electricity to areas as granular as 1 square km in size. An innovative web-based application developed by the World Bank, Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, it was launched publicly this month with data on three countries – Tanzania, Zambia, and Nigeria – and will be adapted for more.

Explore the online tool here .