This is not your typical map. Mapmaker John Nelson of IDV Solutions, a data visualization company, created the map from the vantage point of a bird’s-eye view with Antarctica is centered in the middle. North and South America are on the upper right, Asia is on the left, and Africa can be seen on the bottom.

“When I put it onto a rectangular map it was neat looking, but a little bit disappointing,” Nelson told OurAmazingPlanet. So instead he chose to center the map around the south pole. He used electric blue and green lines to show the hurricane paths, based on government data through 2010.

The data, collected from NOAA archives and NASA, clearly shows certain regions are more prone to intense hurricanes. The tiniest blue dots on the map signify tropical storms that were never upgraded to hurricane status. Hurricanes are recorded on the map with dots ranging from small blue category 1 storms to large green category 5 storms, almost all of which are found around the Americas.

The graphs on the lower right of the map also show more storms have occurred in the latter half of the 20th century than earlier years. However, that’s partially because technological advances have helped storm trackers detect storms that in earlier times would have been missed.

Click the below image to see the map in full detail.

Featured photo credit: IDV Solutions/Flickr

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In its study, NREL defines what is technically achievable considering topographic limitations, land-use and environmental constraints for each state. Using state-level maps and tables incorporating available land area, installed capacity in gigawatts, and electric generation in gigawatt-hours for each technology, the study lays out in detail the broad “sense of the scale regarding the potential for renewables and which technologies are worth examining,” says report co-author Anthony Lopez.

“Decision-makers using the study will get a sense of scale regarding the potential for renewables, and which technologies are worth examining,” said Lopez. “Energy modelers also will find the study valuable.”

The report “normalizes” its assessment of the six clean energy technologies, unifying methods and assumptions in the comparison to give a clear picture of the technical potential for renewable energy across the country.

Some states and regions stand out for particular technologies. For instance, Hawaii has the most potential for offshore wind; the Lone Star State is prime for Texas-sized utility-scale PV solar (with California on its boot heels); the Rocky Mountain states roil with geothermal energy; the Great North of Alaska and the northwest offer the most potential for hydropower. In all, “it looks like every state has something to work with,” says Lopez.

According to the study the U.S. has 481,800 terawatt-hours of potential generating capacity from all renewable energy sources combine – 212,224 gigawatts. Those are big numbers, and more than enough to meet our current needs.

Of course, it isn’t as easy as simply mapping potential. The report  does not take into account economics and market forces, and the question of energy transmission remains- getting the power where it is needed. But the NREL study makes clear the potential of clean energy to transform the nation into a leader of the new energy economy – if we are up to the challenge.

Main image credit: fotopedia.com
Map credit: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

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Created to encourage the generation of renewable energy via anaerobic digestion, the map connects organic waste producers (i.e. food processing facilities) and those seeking such waste (i.e. wastewater treatment facilities). It’s the first mapping tool available online supporting biogas production via co-digestion.

Co-digestion technology allows fats, oils, and grease (FOG), along with food waste, to be added to a typical anaerobic digestion system, thereby further diverting waste from the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. FOG and food waste produce three times the amount of methane as plain old manure does in an anaerobic plant, making it a viable source of additional renewable energy in the form of biogas.

The mapping tool was developed for the Pacific Southwest of the United States, encompassing Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands. Users will be able to search by address for either facilities generating waste or for utilities looking to accept waste for digestion. Once search results have been located, a pop-up box will show details and contact information for each facility listed on the map. It could prove invaluable for connecting waste producers to energy producers, helping to clean up the environment while generating cleaner, renewable energy.

[via EcoSeed]

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