Planning support tools for the integration of renewable energy at the regional level

A computer-based decision support system, EnTrack, has been established for use by planners and energy managers engaged in the development of renewable energy resources at the regional level. To this end, the project has involved a mix of local authority and academic staff from three European countries. The system provides the means to estimate renewable energy resources subject to selected environmental and socioeconomic constraints, and to explore the matching of energy supply and demand. Its features and methodology are described in detail and preliminary results from field trials, now in progress in three regions, are reported.