Overview

The International Jobs and Economic Development Impacts (I-JEDI) tool is an economic model that helps policymakers and practitioners analyze gross economic impacts of renewable energy projects (wind, solar, biomass and geothermal). I-JEDI estimates economic impacts of the construction and operation of renewable energy projects, specifically the expenditures and the portion of these expenditures made within the country of analysis. The tool uses this data to provide estimates on employment, earnings, gross domestic product, gross output impacts, and economic impacts by industry.  This information can support practitioners in making a case for renewable energy actions aligned with key economic development goals.  

Countries included in the current 2016 version of I-JEDI include Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, and Zambia. Additional countries will be added to the model over time.

Inputs and Outputs 
 
In the Excel-based tool, users select the input worksheet for a specific renewable energy technology (solar, wind, biopower, geothermal) or for a technology not specified in the tool. For each technology, the tool provides an input worksheet that helps formulate project characteristics and a results worksheet that shows gross economic impacts of the project.

Within the input worksheet, users select the country of analysis and currency-year. Default data on country-specific costs and percentages of local goods and services (from sources including periodicals, journal articles, industry experts and engineering cost models) and project expenditures estimates (including equipment construction and labor costs) are pre-populated. Users can use or modify default data if they have the specific project information available. For countries that are not included in the tool, users can use the custom region worksheet to develop models, but the user will need to have the necessary input data available.

After completing the input worksheet, the Results worksheet presents estimated gross economic impacts of a project in areas including employment, earnings, gross domestic product and gross output impacts. I-JEDI results also provide country specific impacts by industry (agriculture, transportation, education, health care and construction).

Users can feed the model's outputs into a broader Development Impact Assessment framework for information on job and economic impacts of specific low emission development actions to support prioritization and informed decision-making.

Limitations 

I-JEDI results are gross, not net. Impact estimates for each technology do not factor in far-reaching effects such as displaced economic activity or alternative uses for project funds. For solar photovoltaics, the default values reflect what is primarily installed in the country of analysis, are average values and do not distinguish between residential rooftops, commercial rooftops or utility-scale solar photovoltaics.
 
I-JEDI does not estimate impacts from changes in prices, utility rates, taxes, or wages, nor does it estimate constraints in resources.
 
Accessing the tools and additional information
 
Access the I-JEDI tool in English or Spanish, along with the user guides in English or Spanish. Watch the online I-JEDI video tutorial. The 2016 I-JEDI tool was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with funding from USAID. The tool is supported by the U.S. government’s Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) program.

Contact

Amanda Wheat
USAID Global Climate Change Office/Washington DC
climatechange@usaid.gov

Sadie Cox
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Sadie.Cox@nrel.gov