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International Project Assistance

NREL applies its technical expertise and capabilities to promote the use of renewable energy throughout the world as a tool for sustainable development. Our involvement with international clean energy projects and initiatives, particularly those in developing countries, include the:

Climate Technology Partnership

NREL assists the Climate Technology Partnership (CTP) with promoting investment in market-viable, clean energy technologies to help meet the development goals of participating countries:

  • China
  • Korea
  • Mexico.

To select technology priorities and develop investment plans, the Climate Technology Partnership works with interagency teams, which include:

  • Government agencies
  • Business representatives
  • Industry groups
  • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
  • Research/academic institutions.

See our capabilities in market and economic development for more information about NREL's contribution to the project. Also see our market and economic development publications.

NREL Partners: U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Integrated Environmental Strategies Program

Since 1988, NREL has provided technical and project management support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Integrated Environmental Strategies (IES) Program and to the eight developing countries that participate in the program:

  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • China
  • India
  • Mexico
  • Philippines
  • South Korea.

See our capabilities in environmental planning for more information about NREL's contribution to the project.

IES is designed to engage developing countries to build support for integrated planning to address both local environmental concerns and reduce associated global greenhouse gas emissions. The program promotes the analysis and implementation of clean energy technologies and policy measures that produce public health, economic and environmental co-benefits.

NREL Partner: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA)

NREL has produced high-resolution maps and data sets of solar and wind energy resources for SWERA. The resource data are integrated into a Geographic Information Systems framework that allows the resource data to be combined with key geographic and demographic data, including:

  • Political boundaries
  • Terrain characteristics
  • Location of load centers
  • Power facilities
  • Transmission lines.

NREL has been involved with SWERA activities in:

  • Guatemala
  • Nicaragua
  • Honduras
  • El Salvador
  • Cuba
  • Brazil
  • Ghana
  • Ethiopia
  • Kenya
  • China
  • Nepal
  • Bangladesh
  • Sri Lanka.

See our capabilities in integrated resource assessment for more information about NREL's contribution to the project.

NREL Partner: United Nations Environment Program

South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy

NREL is working with the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Cooperation (SARI/E) program to promote energy security in South Asia. Through these activities, SARI/E facilitates more efficient regional energy resource utilization, works toward transparent and profitable energy practices, mitigates the environmental impacts of energy production, and increases regional access to energy.

See our capabilities in economic analysis for more information about NREL's contribution to the project, including energy resource maps.

NREL Partner: U.S. Agency for International Development.

Village Power Program

A pioneer in the "village power" field, NREL works to match renewable energy and efficiency technologies with energy needs in rural and remote areas. We promote productive uses of energy that foster rural development.

NREL works to integrate technologies with services to meet basic human needs, such as providing access to adequate healthy water supplies, and health services and education.

See our capabilities for more information about NREL's contribution to the project.

Visit the Village Power Project Database for more information about specific projects.