IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v241y2025ics0960148124023632.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Solar farms suitability analysis using GIS-Based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multi-criteria: A case study of Al Duqm – Oman

Author

Listed:
  • Al-Awadhi, Talal
  • Al Ramimi, Waleed
  • Al Jabri, Khalifa
  • Abulibdeh, Ammar

Abstract

Fossil fuels have been the primary energy source for decades, but they have led to numerous environmental and health concerns, such as air pollution and climate change. This has highlighted the urgent need to transition towards renewable energy sources such as solar energy. Solar energy is an abundant zero-emission energy source that offers numerous benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy security, and promoting energy independence. This study utilizes Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques to implement the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The AHP is applied using twelve criteria, categorized into three sections: Topographic, Climatic, and Economic. These criteria include factors such as slope, solar radiation, wind speed, power stations, roads, and others. Five categories were used to classify the results: very low suitability, low suitability, moderate suitability, high suitability, and very high suitability. The southern and northern regions of the study area exhibit low suitability for establishing solar energy farms. In contrast, the central region demonstrates high suitability for solar energy farm establishments. In addition, the total area of the highly suitable classified lands for establishing solar energy farms in the study area was about 1631 Km2 (18 % of the study/land area). This approach assists decision-makers in the country in deciding on solar energy in the study area.

Suggested Citation

  • Al-Awadhi, Talal & Al Ramimi, Waleed & Al Jabri, Khalifa & Abulibdeh, Ammar, 2025. "Solar farms suitability analysis using GIS-Based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) multi-criteria: A case study of Al Duqm – Oman," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124023632
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.122295
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148124023632
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2024.122295?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. Jerome G. Gacu & Junrey D. Garcia & Eddie G. Fetalvero & Merian P. Catajay-Mani & Cris Edward F. Monjardin, 2023. "Suitability Analysis Using GIS-Based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Solar Power Exploration," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-28, September.
    2. Nematollahi, Omid & Kim, Kyung Chun, 2017. "A feasibility study of solar energy in South Korea," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 566-579.
    3. Shawky Mansour & Ammar Abulibdeh & Mohammed Alahmadi & Adham Al-Said & Alkhattab Al-Said & Gary Watmough & Peter M. Atkinson, 2022. "Spatial Associations between COVID-19 Incidence Rates and Work Sectors: Geospatial Modeling of Infection Patterns among Migrants in Oman," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 112(7), pages 1974-1993, October.
    4. Abdulaziz Alhammad & Qian (Chayn) Sun & Yaguang Tao, 2022. "Optimal Solar Plant Site Identification Using GIS and Remote Sensing: Framework and Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Gastli, Adel & Charabi, Yassine, 2010. "Solar electricity prospects in Oman using GIS-based solar radiation maps," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 790-797, February.
    6. Al-Badi, A.H. & Albadi, M.H. & Al-Lawati, A.M. & Malik, A.S., 2011. "Economic perspective of PV electricity in Oman," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 226-232.
    7. Alamdari, Pouria & Nematollahi, Omid & Alemrajabi, Ali Akbar, 2013. "Solar energy potentials in Iran: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 778-788.
    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. Mokhinabonu Mardonova & Yosoon Choi, 2019. "Assessment of Photovoltaic Potential of Mining Sites in Uzbekistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Al-Badi, A.H. & Malik, A. & Gastli, A., 2011. "Sustainable energy usage in Oman—Opportunities and barriers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3780-3788.
    3. 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.
    4. Firozjaei, Mohammad Karimi & Nematollahi, Omid & Mijani, Naeim & Shorabeh, Saman Nadizadeh & Firozjaei, Hamzeh Karimi & Toomanian, Ara, 2019. "An integrated GIS-based Ordered Weighted Averaging analysis for solar energy evaluation in Iran: Current conditions and future planning," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 1130-1146.
    5. Zoghi, Mahmood & Houshang Ehsani, Amir & Sadat, Mahdis & javad Amiri, Mohammad & Karimi, Sepideh, 2017. "Optimization solar site selection by fuzzy logic model and weighted linear combination method in arid and semi-arid region: A case study Isfahan-IRAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 986-996.
    6. Martín-Pomares, Luis & Martínez, Diego & Polo, Jesús & Perez-Astudillo, Daniel & Bachour, Dunia & Sanfilippo, Antonio, 2017. "Analysis of the long-term solar potential for electricity generation in Qatar," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1231-1246.
    7. Azizkhani, Mostafa & Vakili, Abdullah & Noorollahi, Younes & Naseri, Farzin, 2017. "Potential survey of photovoltaic power plants using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1198-1206.
    8. Ghasemi, Golara & Noorollahi, Younes & Alavi, Hamed & Marzband, Mousa & Shahbazi, Mahmoud, 2019. "Theoretical and technical potential evaluation of solar power generation in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 1250-1261.
    9. Mahtta, Richa & Joshi, P.K. & Jindal, Alok Kumar, 2014. "Solar power potential mapping in India using remote sensing inputs and environmental parameters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 255-262.
    10. Mehrabankhomartash, Mahmoud & Rayati, Mohammad & Sheikhi, Aras & Ranjbar, Ali Mohammad, 2017. "Practical battery size optimization of a PV system by considering individual customer damage function," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 36-50.
    11. Hernández-Escobedo, Q. & Rodríguez-García, E. & Saldaña-Flores, R. & Fernández-García, A. & Manzano-Agugliaro, F., 2015. "Solar energy resource assessment in Mexican states along the Gulf of Mexico," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 216-238.
    12. Al Busaidi, Ahmed Said & Kazem, Hussein A & Al-Badi, Abdullah H & Farooq Khan, Mohammad, 2016. "A review of optimum sizing of hybrid PV–Wind renewable energy systems in oman," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 185-193.
    13. Ghorbani, Narges & Aghahosseini, Arman & Breyer, Christian, 2020. "Assessment of a cost-optimal power system fully based on renewable energy for Iran by 2050 – Achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions and overcoming the water crisis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 125-148.
    14. Hernández-Escobedo, Q. & Fernández-García, A. & Manzano-Agugliaro, F., 2017. "Solar resource assessment for rural electrification and industrial development in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 1550-1561.
    15. Kim, SangYoun & Heo, SungKu & Nam, KiJeon & Woo, TaeYong & Yoo, ChangKyoo, 2023. "Flexible renewable energy planning based on multi-step forecasting of interregional electricity supply and demand: Graph-enhanced AI approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    16. Sophia Akhtar & M Khurram Hashmi & Ishaq Ahmad & Rizwan Raza, 2018. "Advances and significance of solar reflectors in solar energy technology in Pakistan," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(4), pages 435-455, June.
    17. Nematollahi, Omid & Hoghooghi, Hadi & Rasti, Mehdi & Sedaghat, Ahmad, 2016. "Energy demands and renewable energy resources in the Middle East," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1172-1181.
    18. Besharati Fard, Moein & Moradian, Parisa & Emarati, Mohammadreza & Ebadi, Mehdi & Gholamzadeh Chofreh, Abdoulmohammad & Klemeŝ, Jiří Jaromír, 2022. "Ground-mounted photovoltaic power station site selection and economic analysis based on a hybrid fuzzy best-worst method and geographic information system: A case study Guilan province," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    19. Ifaei, Pouya & Tayerani Charmchi, Amir Saman & Loy-Benitez, Jorge & Yang, Rebecca Jing & Yoo, ChangKyoo, 2022. "A data-driven analytical roadmap to a sustainable 2030 in South Korea based on optimal renewable microgrids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    20. 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.

    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:241:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124023632. 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.