Quick look
- UNDP and IBM developed two new interactive models for UNDP?s Data Futures Exchanges GeoHub:the AI model Electricity Access Forecasting and the statistical geospatial model Clean Energy Equity Index.
- The organizations collaborated through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator program using technologies such as IBM watsonx, IBM Cloud and IBM Environmental Intelligence.
- The new models will be made available for free to the general public through UNDPs GeoHub dashboards, helping users access data and insights to interpret complex clean energy challenges and opportunities.
IBM and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched new interactive models on energy within UNDP?s global GeoHub platform.
These innovative solutions use technologies such as the IBM watsonx AI and data platform to enable users from policymakers at the national and community level to the general public to analyze complex energy issues through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology and access a wide range of resources, helping support data-driven decision-making toward a just energy transition.
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, said Justina Nixon-Saintil, IBM vice president and chief impact officer. By making innovative models freely accessible to the public, we aim to empower leaders, organizations and community members alike with the insights to make impactful energy decisions around the world.”
As part of UNDPs Data Futures Exchange (DFx), GeoHub is a centralized ecosystem of geospatial data and services. It provides a platform to easily upload, visualize and analyze datasets, combining time-oriented and geographic data with satellite imagery.
GeoHub supports a granular, localized, and evidence-based approach to development challenges and integrated policy making? from determining subnational distribution of electricity access, to assessing levels of vulnerability to the effects of climate change for communities over time.
UNDPs 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.
Net-zero investment and people-centered development strategies are fundamental to accelerate the SDGs, said Laurel Patterson, Head of the UNDP SDG Integration Team, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
UNDP and IBM worked together over two years through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator program.
This project started with a collaborative engagement through the IBM Garage, and resulted in the enhancement of UNDPs GeoHub with two innovative models: the AI model Electricity Access Forecasting and the statistical geospatial model Clean Energy Equity Index.
- The Electricity Access ForecastingAI model uses the IBM watsonx AI and data platform, IBM Cloud, and an open-source machine learning library to provide future forecasts at scale of electricity access through 2030 by evaluating a set of factors including population, infrastructure, urbanization, elevation, and satellite data in addition to land use data provided by IBM Environmental Intelligence. By modeling these factors to make a future forecast, the Electricity Access Forecasting model provides a distinct advantage compared to more commonly available, current-day estimates of electricity access. The model will contain data from 102 countries across the Global South, including in Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.
- TheClean Energy Equity Index, developed by IBM and UNDP together with Stony Brook University, is a first-of-its-kind statistical geospatial model combining geospatial analytics with environmental, economic and social factors such as education, greenhouse gas emissions, and relative wealth to generate a Clean Energy Equity score of 0-1. This score reflects both opportunities for clean energy development as well as urgency, through the lens of equity and a just transition. In this dashboard, GeoHub users can also individually view and customize each environmental, economic, or social factor analyzed in the model, to evaluate which factors have the greatest impact on equitable access to clean energy, empowering better decision making. The model will provide data from 53 African countries.
Historically, advanced models like these have not always been freely accessible and applicable to all users.
Together, IBM and UNDP set out to co-create solutions that would strengthen free public access to complex clean energy information and advanced technology, while simultaneously providing essential energy resources for policymakers, governments, journalists and decision makers.
Universal access to electricity remains a pivotal goal for African states in the region. Our collaboration with the UNDP, through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator will allow communities on the continent to use the power of science, leading technology and the latest innovations in AI and hybrid cloud to turn sustainability ambition into action, by leveraging data and insights to interpret complex clean energy challenges and opportunities. Said John Matogo, Corporate Social Responsibility Leader for Middle East and Africa
“The tool would provide spatial data and an actual visualization of interventions on the ground, this therefore can simplify access to information in our AMP project sites hence simplifying how monitoring is done and how informed decisions are made in ensuring energy security…” Mathangeni Ngwira, UNDP Malawi Country Office, said.
On Electricity Access Forecasting, Sambou Nget, UNDP Gambia Country Office, said:
The use of Geospatial Innovation and AI can really support Gambia?s electrification initiatives by determining the location of off-grid and hard-to-reach communities, forecasting the demand by area, using the forecast number of users by user profile/consumption patterns, and determining the likely mini-grid electricity service area and location for situating the power installation amongst many other uses.
“Leveraging tailored tech solutions can address Madagascars energy access challenges. Granular data from geospatial technologies facilitates informed decisions to ensure equitable access, particularly in remote areas with sparse infrastructure, enabling the deployment of suitable power generation methods like solar or wind, said Natasha Van Rijn, Resident Representative, UNDP Madagascar
“Advanced technologies can revolutionize data collection and tailor energy solutions to Comoros? specific needs, especially across its three separate islands. Initiatives like the Africa Minigrids Program offer pathways to scale up sustainable energy solutions, crucial for both domestic and productive uses, amidst climate uncertainties,” said Snehal Soneji, Resident Representative, UNDP Comoros.
