DNV GL has created the preliminary wind atlases for Zambia, Tanzania and The Maldives, as part of phase 1 of an Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) project funded by the World Bank.
The governments of these countries will be able to use the maps to develop policies and strategies for wind energy. The maps are also an important tool for attracting investors and developers. Phase 1 of the project began in June 2014 and is set to run until 2018. The first phase, completed in May 2015 saw DNV GL carry out wind flow modelling to create a preliminary atlas of wind energy production potential. DNV GL was also responsible for conducting workshops for governmental stakeholders and decision makers in each country, delivering training on interpretation of wind atlases, wind resource assessments, energy policy essentials, and bankable measurement campaigns. The next phase of the project will involve the installation of met masts at various locations in each country to allow experts to collect real data for a period of two years. DNV GL will also train local companies to be able to build and maintain these masts in the future. The final stage involves creating a redefined and validated meso-micro wind atlas for each country, combining both the DNV GL models and the real-life measurements.