Solar PV power plant site selection using a GIS-based non-linear multi-criteria optimization technique.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Geographic Information Systems

Background:

• Fossil fuel reliance presents environmental challenges, driving the need for sustainable energy solutions.
• Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offer a clean energy alternative but require careful site selection due to land and investment needs.
• Identifying suitable locations for PV power plants is essential for maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive methodology for identifying suitable sites for solar photovoltaic power plants.
• To analyze key factors influencing PV power plant location, including geographic, technical, economic, and flood susceptibility criteria.
• To create a national suitability map for solar PV power plant development.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a multi-criteria decision-making approach, employing the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) to assign weights to ten factors.
• Integrated data from governmental and international organizations for factor analysis.
• Performed weighted overlay analysis using ESRI ArcGIS Pro to generate a suitability map.

Main Results:

• Identified that only 2.02% of the country's area is suitable for solar PV power plant construction.
• Classified suitable areas into five distinct suitability levels.
• Conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of individual factors on the final suitability map.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a scientifically robust framework for solar PV power plant site selection.
• The generated suitability map highlights critical areas for renewable energy deployment, guiding policy and investment.
• Findings support the expansion of solar energy resources and contribute to sustainable energy goals.