IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v239y2025ics0960148124022134.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of the criteria importance for determining solar panel site potential via machine learning algorithms, a case study Central Anatolia region, Turkey

Author

Listed:
  • Sari, Fatih
  • Rusen, Selmin Ener

Abstract

In this study, 16 criteria influencing solar energy potential were identified, and interactions with 1311 existing solar power plants were examined using MaxEnt and Logistic Regression methods. Unlike traditional site suitability studies in the literature, this study determined criterion weights solely based on natural intersections of criteria with locations of existing solar power plants, without artificial weight assignment. Thus, correlations demonstrated by 1311 solar power plants across the 16 criteria were used to create solar energy potential maps for the entire study area. The MaxEnt analysis yielded an AUC value of 0.760, while the LR method calculated an R2 value of 0.7904, indicating high correlation between all points and specific criterion values, with approximately 80 % of the study area's solar energy potential being determined by these criteria. In MaxEnt, criteria such as distance from land use, highways, and power transmission lines were highlighted, while LR showed that temperature-related criteria also significantly influenced potential determination. The study found that 6.21 % of the study area had the highest potential using MaxEnt, and 8.71 % using LR, with Aksaray, Karaman, Ereğli, and Karatay identified as districts with the highest potential. The correlation value between the results of both methods has been calculated as 0.756.

Suggested Citation

  • Sari, Fatih & Rusen, Selmin Ener, 2025. "Assessment of the criteria importance for determining solar panel site potential via machine learning algorithms, a case study Central Anatolia region, Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:239:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124022134
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.122145
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124022134
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122145?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Janke, Jason R., 2010. "Multicriteria GIS modeling of wind and solar farms in Colorado," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 2228-2234.
    2. Meryem Tahri & Mustapha Hakdaoui & Mohamed Maanan, 2015. "The evaluation of solar farm locations applying Geographic Information System and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods: Case study in southern Morocco," Post-Print hal-01185533, HAL.
    3. Heras-Saizarbitoria, Iñaki & Cilleruelo, Ernesto & Zamanillo, Ibon, 2011. "Public acceptance of renewables and the media: an analysis of the Spanish PV solar experience," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4685-4696.
    4. Atici, Kazim Baris & Simsek, Ahmet Bahadir & Ulucan, Aydin & Tosun, Mustafa Umur, 2015. "A GIS-based Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis approach for wind power plant site selection," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 86-96.
    5. Anwarzai, Mohammad Abed & Nagasaka, Ken, 2017. "Utility-scale implementable potential of wind and solar energies for Afghanistan using GIS multi-criteria decision analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 150-160.
    6. Yushchenko, Alisa & de Bono, Andrea & Chatenoux, Bruno & Kumar Patel, Martin & Ray, Nicolas, 2018. "GIS-based assessment of photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) generation potential in West Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2088-2103.
    7. Tahri, Meryem & Hakdaoui, Mustapha & Maanan, Mohamed, 2015. "The evaluation of solar farm locations applying Geographic Information System and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making methods: Case study in southern Morocco," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1354-1362.
    8. Arán Carrión, J. & Espín Estrella, A. & Aznar Dols, F. & Zamorano Toro, M. & Rodríguez, M. & Ramos Ridao, A., 2008. "Environmental decision-support systems for evaluating the carrying capacity of land areas: Optimal site selection for grid-connected photovoltaic power plants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(9), pages 2358-2380, December.
    9. Saraswat, S.K. & Digalwar, Abhijeet K. & Yadav, S.S. & Kumar, Gaurav, 2021. "MCDM and GIS based modelling technique for assessment of solar and wind farm locations in India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 865-884.
    10. Colak, H. Ebru & Memisoglu, Tugba & Gercek, Yasin, 2020. "Optimal site selection for solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants using GIS and AHP: A case study of Malatya Province, Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 565-576.
    11. Kim, Soullam & Lee, Yuhwa & Moon, Hak-Ryong, 2018. "Siting criteria and feasibility analysis for PV power generation projects using road facilities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 3061-3069.
    12. Al Garni, Hassan Z. & Awasthi, Anjali, 2017. "Solar PV power plant site selection using a GIS-AHP based approach with application in Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1225-1240.
    13. Hoseinzadeh, Siamak & Astiaso Garcia, Davide & Huang, Lizhen, 2023. "Grid-connected renewable energy systems flexibility in Norway islands’ Decarbonization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    14. Kim, Hanjin & Ku, Jiyoon & Kim, Sung-Min & Park, Hyeong-Dong, 2022. "A new GIS-based algorithm to estimate photovoltaic potential of solar train: Case study in Gyeongbu line, Korea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 713-729.
    15. Sun, Yan-wei & Hof, Angela & Wang, Run & Liu, Jian & Lin, Yan-jie & Yang, De-wei, 2013. "GIS-based approach for potential analysis of solar PV generation at the regional scale: A case study of Fujian Province," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 248-259.
    16. Doljak, Dejan & Stanojević, Gorica, 2017. "Evaluation of natural conditions for site selection of ground-mounted photovoltaic power plants in Serbia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 291-300.
    17. Raza, Muhammad Ali & Yousif, Muhammad & Hassan, Muhammad & Numan, Muhammad & Abbas Kazmi, Syed Ali, 2023. "Site suitability for solar and wind energy in developing countries using combination of GIS- AHP; a case study of Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 180-191.
    18. Ali, Shahid & Taweekun, Juntakan & Techato, Kuaanan & Waewsak, Jompob & Gyawali, Saroj, 2019. "GIS based site suitability assessment for wind and solar farms in Songkhla, Thailand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 1360-1372.
    19. Giamalaki, Marina & Tsoutsos, Theocharis, 2019. "Sustainable siting of solar power installations in Mediterranean using a GIS/AHP approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 64-75.
    20. Yin, Peng-Yeng & Wu, Tsai-Hung & Hsu, Ping-Yi, 2017. "Risk management of wind farm micro-siting using an enhanced genetic algorithm with simulation optimization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 508-521.
    21. Sánchez-Lozano, Juan M. & Henggeler Antunes, Carlos & García-Cascales, M. Socorro & Dias, Luis C., 2014. "GIS-based photovoltaic solar farms site selection using ELECTRE-TRI: Evaluating the case for Torre Pacheco, Murcia, Southeast of Spain," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 478-494.
    22. Jonasson, Erik & Fjellstedt, Christoffer & Temiz, Irina, 2024. "Grid impact of co-located offshore renewable energy sources," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Saraswat, S.K. & Digalwar, Abhijeet K. & Yadav, S.S. & Kumar, Gaurav, 2021. "MCDM and GIS based modelling technique for assessment of solar and wind farm locations in India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 865-884.
    2. Fotsing Metegam, Isabelle Flora & Wolff, Eleonore & Tchinda, René & Huart, Michel & Chara-Dackou, Venant Sorel, 2025. "Evaluation of on-grid and off-grid solar photovoltaic sites in Cameroon using geographic information systems, fuzzy logic, and multi-criteria analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    3. Rios, R. & Duarte, S., 2021. "Selection of ideal sites for the development of large-scale solar photovoltaic projects through Analytical Hierarchical Process – Geographic information systems (AHP-GIS) in Peru," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    4. Finn, Thomas & McKenzie, Paul, 2020. "A high-resolution suitability index for solar farm location in complex landscapes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 520-533.
    5. Shorabeh, Saman Nadizadeh & Firozjaei, Mohammad Karimi & Nematollahi, Omid & Firozjaei, Hamzeh Karimi & Jelokhani-Niaraki, Mohammadreza, 2019. "A risk-based multi-criteria spatial decision analysis for solar power plant site selection in different climates: A case study in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 958-973.
    6. Wang, Ruijing & Gong, Jirui & Zhang, Siqi & Zhang, Weiyuan & Dong, Xuede & Hu, Yuxia & Yang, Guisen & Yan, Chenyi & Zhang, Shangpeng & Wang, Tong, 2025. "Comprehensive potential assessment of agrophotovoltaic systems: A case study of Hebei Province," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    7. Shao, Meng & Han, Zhixin & Sun, Jinwei & Xiao, Chengsi & Zhang, Shulei & Zhao, Yuanxu, 2020. "A review of multi-criteria decision making applications for renewable energy site selection," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 377-403.
    8. Dimitra G. Vagiona, 2021. "Comparative Multicriteria Analysis Methods for Ranking Sites for Solar Farm Deployment: A Case Study in Greece," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-23, December.
    9. Sahoo, Somadutta & Zuidema, Christian & van Stralen, Joost N.P. & Sijm, Jos & Faaij, André, 2022. "Detailed spatial analysis of renewables’ potential and heat: A study of Groningen Province in the northern Netherlands," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    10. Sward, Jeffrey A. & Nilson, Roberta S. & Katkar, Venktesh V. & Stedman, Richard C. & Kay, David L. & Ifft, Jennifer E. & Zhang, K. Max, 2021. "Integrating social considerations in multicriteria decision analysis for utility-scale solar photovoltaic siting," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    11. Sofia Spyridonidou & Georgia Sismani & Eva Loukogeorgaki & Dimitra G. Vagiona & Hagit Ulanovsky & Daniel Madar, 2021. "Sustainable Spatial Energy Planning of Large-Scale Wind and PV Farms in Israel: A Collaborative and Participatory Planning Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, January.
    12. Li, Xiao-Ya & Dong, Xin-Yu & Chen, Sha & Ye, Yan-Mei, 2024. "The promising future of developing large-scale PV solar farms in China: A three-stage framework for site selection," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    13. Al Garni, Hassan Z. & Awasthi, Anjali, 2017. "Solar PV power plant site selection using a GIS-AHP based approach with application in Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1225-1240.
    14. Minaei, Foad & Minaei, Masoud & Kougias, Ioannis & Shafizadeh-Moghadam, Hossein & Hosseini, Seyed Ali, 2021. "Rural electrification in protected areas: A spatial assessment of solar photovoltaic suitability using the fuzzy best worst method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 334-345.
    15. Elkadeem, Mohamed R. & Younes, Ali & Jurasz, Jakub & AlZahrani, Atif S. & Abido, Mohammad A., 2025. "A spatio-temporal decision-making model for solar, wind, and hybrid systems – A case study of Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 383(C).
    16. Majumdar, Debaleena & Pasqualetti, Martin J., 2019. "Analysis of land availability for utility-scale power plants and assessment of solar photovoltaic development in the state of Arizona, USA," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1213-1231.
    17. Günen, Mehmet Akif, 2021. "A comprehensive framework based on GIS-AHP for the installation of solar PV farms in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 212-225.
    18. Katkar, Venktesh V. & Sward, Jeffrey A. & Worsley, Alex & Zhang, K. Max, 2021. "Strategic land use analysis for solar energy development in New York State," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 861-875.
    19. Shorabeh, Saman Nadizadeh & Samany, Najmeh Neysani & Minaei, Foad & Firozjaei, Hamzeh Karimi & Homaee, Mehdi & Boloorani, Ali Darvishi, 2022. "A decision model based on decision tree and particle swarm optimization algorithms to identify optimal locations for solar power plants construction in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 56-67.
    20. Yılmaz, Kutay & Dinçer, Ali Ersin & Ayhan, Elif N., 2023. "Exploring flood and erosion risk indices for optimal solar PV site selection and assessing the influence of topographic resolution," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:239:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124022134. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.