SBA Description Energy

Statement of Need

Countries need reliable and timely information in order to manage the risks associated with uncertainty in supply, demand, and market dynamics. Sound resource management practices and strategies are needed by both industry and government. Access to accurate, reliable, affordable real-time data from observation systems, as well as predictive information derived from the modeled data, is critical for the continued stability and growth of the economies.
In developing countries, major issues are energy access and reliability, with efficient energy management being a secondary issue.
Equally important are the requirements for governments to reduce or stabilize their greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels

Vision and How GEOSS will help

The vision is to balance the supply and the demand of energy of the planet in a sound, equitable, sustainable and environmentally responsible way, enabling countries to meet and further their economic, social and environmental agendas and/or obligations.
GEOSS and its associated modeling capabilities will allow energy management actions to be taken to reduce risk due to weather, climate, water, oceanic, geological and human threats. The objective is to create informed ‘proactive’ strategic energy planning together with tactical management based on accurate situational awareness and prediction. GEOSS will play an important role in providing data and information relevant to planning, developing and controlling power and pipeline distribution systems, hydropower dam operations, wind power generation commitment, traffic congestion management, city lighting, and building heating/cooling, to name just a few. In addition, GEOSS will contribute significantly to the development of renewable energy systems and their incorporation into the grid and, as a consequence, will decrease the demand on and extend the life expectancy of non-renewable energy sources.

Existing Situation and Gaps

The energy industry is already an important user of Earth Observation-derived information and products. Assessment of greenhouse-gas emissions and the monitoring of air pollution and air quality are key requirements for energy producers and require further improvements.
Gaps still exist in the data and information products needed for efficient exploration, production, transportation and use of energy. There is a need for better and more informative indicators of the factors influencing energy demand (including socio-economic trends) which decision-makers and stakeholders can use to assess the current situation and to take both short-term and long-term corrective actions.

For more information regarding this SBA, please consult the “10-Year Implementation Plan Reference Document by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)”, available at:

http://earthobservations.org/documents/10-Year%20Plan%20Reference%20Document.pdf