Many countries around the world choose to develop a national energy/electricity sector masterplan. For the electricity sector, such plans are often called Integrated Resource Plans. A reliable and up-to-date masterplan helps countries to create a stable and predictable investment environment, and provides a framework for the expansion of renewable energy deployment and the design of suitable energy/electricity sector policies.

Energy system modelling allows system-wide policy assessments that consider supply security, energy access, affordability, environmental impact and financial constraints. IRENA offers support to countries for developing robust national energy masterplans. IRENA support aims to build the relevant institutional capacity in partner countries through training on the use of energy planning tools and scenario development. The ultimate objective is for the country to independently prepare and update an energy masterplan.

IRENA’s energy planning support utilises the System Planning Tool (SPLAT) model, adapted to the context and energy system of the respective country. SPLAT provides an energy supply optimisation framework to a reference energy system and has been developed by IRENA based on the MESSAGE software from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). SPLAT models reflect the latest expert knowledge on resource availability and cost development trends for various renewable sources.

National Energy Planning Support Programmes

IRENA-Sierra Leone Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme (July 2017 – currently)

The Republic of Sierra Leone’s government and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are undertaking a joint Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme. The Programme’s objective is for Sierra Leone to establish a national energy planning unit for energy statistics and long-term energy planning and to gain the capacity to self-dependently prepare and regularly update a national energy masterplan.

IRENA-Eswatini Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme (April 2016 – October 2018)

In 2016, the government of the Kingdom of Eswatini _^[1] (then known as Swaziland) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) agreed to hold a joint Energy Planning Capacity-Building Programme.

^{[1] The Kingdom of Eswatini, previously known as the Kingdom of Swaziland, officially changed its name on 19 April 2018.} 

Planning for the renewable future: Long-term modelling and tools to expand variable renewable power in emerging economies

This report highlights the findings from AVRIL (“Addressing Variable Renewable Energy in Long-term Energy Planning”), a project by IRENA that has identified the best practices in long-term planning and modelling to represent high shares of VRE. 

• January 2017
• |
• Power, Energy Transition
• |
• English

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