The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland Receives Special Achievement Award for Exceptional Application of Geospatial Technology

Announcement made by Esri President Jack Dangermond during Esri’s International User Conference, San Diego.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was honoured with a Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the 2016 Esri International User Conference in San Diego, California. The SAG award recognises and rewards organisations that have used GIS to improve our world—and set new precedents throughout the GIS community.

Marie Hogan and Adam Glover (Esri Ireland) pictured at Esri User Conference San Diego, receiving the SAG Award on behalf of SEAI from Esri President Jack Dangermond

SEAI are on a mission to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices. To achieve this vision of a low-carbon future, the organisation needs to make environmental data accessible to a wide range of audiences, decision makers and policy makers in formats that they can easily access and use. 

To support their mission to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures SEAI needed to  redevelop their online GIS services.  In 2014, SEAI went out to tender and, following the competitive process, Esri Ireland was appointed to redevelop SEAI’s online GIS services using Esri’s ArcGIS for Server and ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS provided a flexible web-based solution that is easy to update and develop, the SEAI could manage the data available and have more control over how their information is delivered to their users.

In the past 2 years, the Authority has radically changed how they publish data and improved the accessibility of information on renewable energy resources.  They have created and shared three significant data sets which support critical decision making about the development of new sustainable energy schemes in the country.  The Wind Atlas of Ireland which provides detailed information on wind speeds and wind farm sites.  Geothermal Maps showing subsurface temperatures, geologic regions and rock types.  Also Bio-energy Maps indicating areas suitable for the cultivation of bioenergy crops, such as miscanthus, oilseed rape and willow.

It is anticipated that the new GIS apps and services will encourage more individuals and organisations to access and use the rich and unique data sources.  In particular, SEAI expects local authorities, policy makers, researchers and market players, such as wind farm developers, to take advantage of its new web services to use SEAI data more extensively.

“SEAI’s new GIS services make it easier for users to gain insight into the potential value of existing and new sustainable energy projects. Users can not only use the excellent Web Applications but the data is also available as open web services for organisations to consume within their own internal systems. We are delighted that the SEAI is already working on plans to publish additional data that will help to further promote the adoption of green energy in Ireland, this is truly reflective of what the SAG award is all about. SEAI are a most deserving winner and we’re delighted they’ve been recognised by the International GIS Community in this way”, commented Dermot O’Kane, Sales Manager, Esri Ireland.

For more information about the 2016 Special Achievement in GIS Award winners, including project information and photos, please visit: esri.com/sag.

John McCann and Mary Holland, SEAI receiving their special achievement in GIS award.