Conservation Tracking

RCoE Action

Topic

Policy

Target

Title

These layers present the application of the Degree of Urbanisation stage I methodology recommended by UN Statistical Commission to the global population grid generated by the JRC in the epochs 1975-2030 (5 years timestep).

They derive from the GHS-SMOD - R2023A.

The layers have been generated by integration of built-up surface extracted from Landsat and Sentinel-2 image data processing (GHS-BUILT-S R2023), and population data derived from the CIESIN GPW v4.11 (GHS-POP R2023).

The dataset is part the Global Human Settlement Layer, that provide global, high-resolution, multi-temporal gridded data on built-up environment (built-up surface, built-up volume, residential vs. non-residential function), resident population, and settlement classification by the UN-recommended methodology “degree of urbanisation”. The complete information about the GHSL main products can be found in the GHSL Data Package 2023 report.

This dataset maps regions across Africa with high geothermal energy exploration potential, identifying areas where further research and investment are most likely to yield significant returns. The mapping represents a synthesis of the Indicator Analysis performed by TNO (Hofstra, 2023), specifically selecting the most and least favorable technical outcomes under the assumption of a clay-poor sandstone (CP) compaction model.

To ensure structural robustness and account for geological uncertainty, the indicator results have been projected onto four distinct geological basin models:

BGS TARGET Model: Projecting indicator values onto basin shapefiles defined by the British Geological Survey.
Evenick Model: Utilizing sedimentary basin structures characterized by surface porosity and thickness according to Evenick’s framework.
Getech Model: Integrating regional basin delineations to refine spatial prospectivity based on gravity and crustal structure data.
Robertson CGG Model: Applying indicator analysis to high-resolution basin geometries to evaluate technical performance.

Key Indicators & Methodology

The favorable results displayed in these maps are derived from a multi-criteria evaluation which includes:

Thermal Performance: Integration of the 3D conductive thermal model to identify viable reservoir temperatures at depth.
Reservoir Quality: Assessment of potential hydraulic transmissivity based on depth-dependent porosity and permeability for sedimentary aquifers.
Economic Viability: Calculations involving the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) to distinguish areas where energy extraction is most cost-effective.

This layer is part of the Geothermal Atlas for Africa developed within the LEAP-RE project.