Mapping Renewable Energy Potential in Nigeria Using GIS
Nigeria Renewable Energy GIS Suitability Project
Solar • Wind • Hydro | QGIS + Python + GDAL Workflow
This repository contains a complete GIS-based suitability analysis workflow for renewable energy development in Nigeria.
The project integrates solar, wind, and hydro suitability using QGIS, GDAL, raster processing, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), and geospatial modelling.
🔍 Project Purpose
This repository provides a spatial decision-support system to inform renewable energy planning, investment prioritization, and policy formulation in Nigeria.
To create spatially accurate, data-driven suitability maps for supporting renewable energy planning in Nigeria.
The project outputs:
GIS-ready analytical outputs suitable for feasibility screening, strategic energy planning, and donor-funded infrastructure programmes.
🌞 Solar Suitability Map
🌬️ Wind Suitability Map
💧 Hydro Suitability Map
⚡ Combined Renewable Energy Suitability Index
📍 Candidate Sites / Priority Zones
🗂️ Datasets Used
Raster Data
Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
Landcover (ESA WorldCover / Copernicus)
Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI)
Wind Speed (ERA5 / Global Wind Atlas)
Hydro layers (flow accumulation, slope, rivers)
Roads & grid network
Vector Data
State boundaries (GADM, OCHA)
Hydrology (rivers, catchments)
Transmission lines & substations
⚙️ Processing Workflow
The GIS workflow includes:
1. Data Acquisition
Download raw datasets into data_raw/.
2. Preprocessing
Reproject all rasters to WGS84 / UTM
Clip to Nigeria AOI
Resample layers to common resolution
Convert vector → raster where needed
Build landmask
All spatial analysis was conducted in WGS 84 / UTM Zone 32N (EPSG:32632).
3. Criteria Computation
Solar:
GHI reclassification
Slope constraints
Land cover restrictions
Wind:
Wind speed at 100m
Roughness / surface friction
Distance to grid
Hydro:
Flow accumulation
Stream network extraction
Head & slope constraints
4. Multi-Criteria Decision A …