A research paper titled, “Regional Scale Assessment of Cumbria’s Renewable Energy Resource,” submitted by Alexandra Gormally, a student of the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) from the Lancaster University located Lancaster Environment Centre, has received the prize for the top research paper at the Portsmouth University held annual conference of the Geographical Information Systems Research (GISRUK) in April this year.
Alexandra Gormally
The research work of Alexandra has pooled the data collected from various origins within Geographic Information System maps to demonstrate solar, wind, bio-energy and hydro-power production potential all over Cumbria. The collected data was mixed with the population data to understand the likely demand for electricity and to generate a map depicting the locations with possibilities to generate renewable energy to fulfill the power requirements of local inhabitants. The research will make a further detailed study by selecting three communities from the areas that are shown with more potential for electric power generation.
The research team will perform regular monthly, seasonal and periodic appraisals of the available resources and potential to conclude how a combination of developments can make power supply more stable. The study will also include some level of psychiatry of the involved communities in accepting certain renewable energy types.
According to Alexandra, the community- based energy developments while lending to the existing power generation also enables the communities to own and manage their power supply. Also, the idea of producing their own electricity assists them in controlling their demand for power usage.