Developing an ocean renewable energy platform with FOSS4G
2026-09-03 , Dahlia1

The global push for Net Zero has turned our eyes toward the horizon—specifically, the vast, untapped energy of our oceans. This session explores using FOSS4G in building a comprehensive ocean renewable energy platform.


The global transition toward sustainable energy is no longer a secondary objective; it is a technical and environmental necessity. As we look to the horizon, the untapped potential of the "Blue Economy" offers a significant opportunity for renewable energy generation. However, the development of offshore energy platforms is often restricted by the high costs and opaque methodologies of proprietary geospatial tools. This session explores a shift toward transparency and collaboration by showcasing the development of an ocean renewable energy platform built entirely within an open geospatial ecosystem.

Foundational Analysis and Spatial Modeling
The process begins with the rigorous analysis of the marine environment. We examine how open-source frameworks allow for the seamless integration of various factors from resource, physical, economic and environmental perspectives. Identifying suitable sites for energy requires a deep understanding of these factors. By utilizing community-driven geospatial tools, developers can ensure that their site selection processes are reproducible, verifiable, and free from the constraints of "black box" algorithms.

Advanced Analytics and Decision Support
Beyond simple mapping, the platform leverages sophisticated spatial informatics to handle the heavy lifting of energy potential calculations. For instance, determining the viability of a specific marine location involves processing multi-dimensional environmental data. By applying standardized physical formulas—such as those used to calculate resource potential—within an automated analytical workflow, we can transform raw oceanic data into actionable insights.

Visualization and Global Democratization
The final stage of the platform focuses on accessibility. Through the deployment of interactive, browser-based visualization layers, complex spatial models are converted into intuitive dashboards. This accessibility is vital for stakeholders, environmental agencies, and policymakers who require real-time monitoring and clear evidence of project viability.

Ultimately, this session demonstrates that choosing open geospatial frameworks is more than a cost-saving measure. It is a commitment to the democratization of technology, empowering organizations of all sizes to contribute to a sustainable future without being tethered to restrictive software licensing.


Level of technical complexity: 1 - beginner Indicate what is (are) the open source project(s) essential in your talk:
  • QGIS
  • Python + Python Geospatial Libraries (Rasterio, Numpy, Fiona, Shapely)
  • Maplibre JS
I make my conference contribution available under the CC BY 4.0 license. The conference contribution comprises the abstract, the text contribution for the conference proceedings, the presentation materials as well as the video recording and live transmission of the presentation:

Ian is a driven data solutions developer specializing in the integration of geospatial intelligence across diverse systems and domains. His career spans research and engineering roles that bridge science, sustainability, and digital transformation. Ian has contributed to ocean renewable energy initiatives, led geospatial software development, and architected cloud infrastructure for a geoscience AI startup. He currently serves as a machine learning engineer at a solar design software company, advancing its mission to power the world with sunshine through intelligent, data-driven solutions.