IBM & UNDP: New Energy Models for Global Energy Access
Access to affordable and reliable energy is critical for helping lift people out of poverty and supporting sustainable development across countries.
Equitable access to energy not only improves living conditions but also strengthens communities' ability to recover from the effects of climate change.
Recognising these needs, IBM and UNDP have collaborated to develop two innovative energy models aimed at improving energy accessibility and supporting global sustainability goals.
Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at IBM, says: "Bringing together UNDP’s knowledge and global leadership in sustainable development and IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI and hybrid cloud, we are proud to unveil solutions that demonstrate the power of technology to make a lasting, positive impact on our environment and in our communities.”
These new models, hosted on the UNDP GeoHub, are available free of charge to provide data and insights about energy access to policymakers, journalists, and the wider public.
The GeoHub is a centralised platform that hosts geospatial data and services, which facilitates a granular, localised approach to integrated policymaking and development.
Justina explains: “By making innovative models freely accessible to the public, we aim to empower leaders, organisations and community members alike with the insights to make impactful energy decisions around the world.”
IBM's commitment to sustainability
IBM has a longstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Present in over 175 countries, it is the world’s largest industrial research organisation and has been involved in sustainability efforts for many years.
Founded in 1911, IBM continues to focus on using technology to solve global challenges, and its goals reflect this.
By 2030, the company aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a commitment that aligns with the broader global effort to combat climate change.
Arvind Krishna, IBM’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, says: “While we are proud of the progress we have made, we are mindful that advancing our environmental, social, and governance goals is a continuous journey of improvement.”
IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator programme is central to these efforts.
This social impact programme focuses on addressing some of the world's most pressing environmental threats through the use of technology and AI.
Each year, around five projects are selected to receive support, helping to scale their impact using technology solutions designed for sustainability.
Since 2022, IBM and UNDP have worked together through this programme on the energy modelling initiative.
IBM and UNDP’s collaboration for energy modelling
The partnership between IBM and UNDP began through the IBM Garage, an end-to-end digital transformation framework that helps organisations collaborate, innovate, and create new solutions.
UNDP, which operates in 170 countries and territories, is involved in reducing inequalities, eradicating poverty and building resilience to ensure that countries can sustain progress.
The collaboration between IBM and UNDP brought about the enhancement of the UNDP GeoHub with the development of two new energy models.
Laurel Patterson, Head of the UNDP SDG Integration Team, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, explains: "UNDP's innovative collaboration with IBM helps countries leverage development data and technology innovation to improve lives and protect the planet.
“The solutions we've co-created provide a credible evidence base to help countries make meaningful and practical progress towards a just energy transition.”
The two new models now available through GeoHub are the Electricity Access Forecasting model and the Clean Energy Equity Index.
These models serve as critical tools for policymakers and organisations working to expand energy access and accelerate clean energy development.
Electricity Access Forecasting model
The Electricity Access Forecasting model was developed using IBM watsonx AI and IBM Cloud, as well as an open-source machine learning library.
The model is designed to provide large-scale forecasts of electricity use through 2030.
It evaluates a range of factors to generate its forecasts, including infrastructure, urbanisation trends, population growth, and elevation, along with land use data sourced from IBM’s Environmental Intelligence Suite.
This model covers data from 102 countries across the Global South, including countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
By offering these forecasts, the model allows stakeholders to understand future energy needs and plan for increased electricity access, especially in underserved regions.
Clean Energy Equity Index
The Clean Energy Equity Index is developed in collaboration with Stony Brook University.
This model offers a detailed geospatial analysis of opportunities and challenges related to clean energy development, combining environmental, social, and economic data with geospatial analytics to create a comprehensive picture of energy equity.
The model generates a Clean Energy Equity score between zero and one, based on factors like greenhouse gas emissions, wealth, and education levels.
This score reflects both the opportunities for clean energy development and the urgency of addressing energy equity issues.
The Clean Energy Equity Index covers data from 53 African countries, providing a critical tool for policymakers in the region to accelerate clean energy adoption.
With these tools, IBM and UNDP aim to support efforts to achieve net zero emissions and help countries develop in a sustainable and inclusive way.
**************
Make sure you check out the latest edition of Energy Digital Magazine and also sign up to our global conference series - Sustainability LIVE 2024
**************
Energy Digital is a BizClik brand.
