This spatial vector dataset shows areas of identified high quality potential for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) development divided into small contiguous areas called "project opportunity areas." This dataset contains project opportunity areas for the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP). This is one of many products resulting from a study led by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) identifying wind and solar renewable energy zones for the Africa Clean Energy Corridor (ACEC). For each project opportunity area identified, only a few attributes of the many calculated are meant to be used at this geographic unit of analysis. These attributes are those that represent distances, which begin with "d_" in the attribute table fields. The remaining multiple siting criteria, including the total and component levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), average capacity factor, distance to nearest grid infrastructure, distance to the nearest load center, average population density, were estimated at the zone level.

For full documentation of the methods and descriptions of the attributes, please refer to the report and attribute information in the interactive PDF map. They can be found on the irena.org/Publications and mapre.lbl.gov websites.

The information provided is meant to inform high-level policy debate (identification of opportunity areas for further prospection, preliminary assessment of technical potentials), or to perform market screening (cross referencing the resource information with policy information). It is suitable for decision-making activities, excluding financial commitments.

By using these data, the user accepts IRENA and LBNL's Terms and Conditions shown here:

IRENA: The designations employed and the presentation of materials herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Renewable Energy Agency concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. While this publication promotes the adoption and use of renewable energy, the International Renewable Energy Agency does not endorse any particular project, product or service provider.

LBNL: This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor the Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or the Regents of the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof or the Regents of the University of California.