Updating Armenia’s National Wind Atlas with EO Data for Renewable Energy Planning
The GDA Clean Energy consortium collaborated with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) , using Earth Observation (EO) based analysis to update Armenia’s National Wind Atlas with high-resolution wind resource data, supporting informed planning and investment in utility-scale wind energy projects.
Description
The GDA Clean Energy activity collaborated with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to deliver Earth Observation (EO) based services to support Armenia’s renewable energy planning. The objective was to update the country’s National Wind Atlas, which was originally developed in 2007, using high-resolution EO data and modern modeling approaches to provide an accurate and current assessment of wind energy potential.
EO services focused on generating long-term, high-resolution wind speed and direction statistics at the national level. The analysis incorporated open-source datasets, advanced modeling techniques, and local measurement data to map Armenia’s wind resources and identify suitable areas for utility-scale wind park development. These outputs form the basis for feasibility analysis of candidate wind projects and a robust investment pipeline.
The updated wind atlas supports government decision-making on wind energy procurement strategies, including the potential use of public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks and Armenia’s new public investment management (PIM) approach. By enabling data-driven planning and reducing reliance on imported fuels, the project contributes to Armenia’s goal of increasing renewable energy in the national energy mix while delivering climate mitigation benefits.