CAF has initiated the first phase of an innovative hydro power assessment for Bolivia. This initiative leverages the SRTM level-2 dataset (30 meter resolution) and hydrological data to undertake a detailed GIS analysis of the hydro power potential of more than 1,000,000 stream segments in this country. The study is being conducted with funding from CAF and in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), Bolivia´s Ministry of Energy, the GeoSUR Program and CAF”s Energy Program. USGS/EROS developed the methodology and is undertaking the GIS analysis required by the study. A similar study was previously undertaken for Sao Paulo State, Brazil in partnership with the Sao Paulo Energy Secretariat and in Peru in partnership with the Ministry of Energy.
A second phase of this initiative will undertake a feasibility study with local partners in Bolivia to estimate where this potential can be exploited, producing detailed technical sheets of potential hydro power projects. This type of hydro power assessment can now be conducted anywhere in Latin American and the Caribbean, thanks to the USGS and GeoSUR Program”s access to the SRTM level-2 dataset for the whole region.
Source: GeoSUR
