The paper, entitled "Open Source Software and Crowdsourcing For Energy Analysis," argues that open availability of energy data and tools using open source software and crowdsourcing can improve the design, implementation and operation of energy systems, especially in developing countries.
25 June 2012: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) has reported on the release of a new White Paper, which was published on Bloomberg New Energy Finance (NEF) and is titled “Open Source Software and Crowdsourcing for Energy Analysis.” The paper examines the use of open source software (OSS) and data, as well as crowd sourcing techniques, to improve energy decision making in developing countries.
The paper argues that open, publicly accessible software and data, such as open energy data and open source energy tools, together with the power of crowdsourcing, can improve the accessibility of energy models and decrease costs of data collection and management. The paper further argues that open educational resources are crucial to develop energy model user capacity in developing countries and to improve the design, implementation and operation of energy systems.
The paper is the result of collaborative efforts of researchers from several organizations, including: the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), University of Cambridge, Ushahidi, Royal Swedish Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University, Stanford University, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Tendril Networks, REEEP, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance.[REEEP Press Release] [Bloomberg New Energy Finance Press Release] [Publication: Open Source Software and Crowdsourcing for Energy Analysis]