Hi OpenStreetMap folks,
We are in the process of setting up a new open initiative within the OpenStreetMap ecosystem that I would like to introduce to you. The initiative is only a few weeks old and we need some time to set up all the content and create the first material+roadmap. However, as we are already busy mapping, we have decided to present our initiative here in the Community forum already:
Open Energy Transition, a German non-profit committed to drive open source software for planning a sustainable energy transition, starts the Oh-my-grid initiative in partnership with Datactivist, Dynartio, Jungle Bus and Infrageomatics. Most of our activity is currently funded by Breakthrought Energy.
Here the official wiki link for our mapping activity:
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Organised_Editing/Activities/Oh_my_grid_initiative
So Why?
Despite the urgent need to expand the global electricity grid, the industry has been unable to establish an open data standard for the exchange of distribution and transmission grid data and specifications across borders. In recent years, OpenStreetMap has established itself as the unofficial de facto standard in academia and industry for cross-border transmission and distribution grid data. For developing countries in particular, the quality and coverage of grid data is inadequate. Closing this gap is not only essential for providing stable energy supply to rural communities, it is also key to mitigating climate change, a key recommendation of the International Energy Agency’s latest report:
Improve data reliability and availability to better assess and manage risks for clean energy projects in emerging market and developing economies.
Taking Stock to Taking Action: How to implement the COP28 energy goals
We are looking forward to get in touch with anyone who is interested to get involved and discuss about what could be possible in your area if interested.
We are currently working on tooling and train on mapping in some countries (Morocco, Ecuador, Pakistan, Nepal, Tanzania and Zambia) with different imagery and knowledge sources.
Observing community principles, particularly licensing questions about third party open data, and comply with local contributors views are very important to us.
You can reach us on our Discord channel or through private message with team members accounts (see the wiki page).
To give you and idea about our development, here an image that shows the original grid data in lime color and the data we have added on top of it:
Cheers
Tobias