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A Regional GIS-Assisted Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Site-Suitability for the Development of Solar Farms

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  • Jesús A. Prieto-Amparán

    (Facultad de Ciencias Agrotecnológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Ave. Pascual Orozco s/n, Campus 1, Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31350, Mexico)

  • Alfredo Pinedo-Alvarez

    (Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Periférico Francisco R. Almada km 1, Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31453, Mexico)

  • Carlos R. Morales-Nieto

    (Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Periférico Francisco R. Almada km 1, Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31453, Mexico)

  • María C. Valles-Aragón

    (Facultad de Ciencias Agrotecnológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Ave. Pascual Orozco s/n, Campus 1, Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31350, Mexico)

  • Alan Álvarez-Holguín

    (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Campo Experimental La Campana, km 33.3 Carretera Chihuahua-Ojinaga, Aldama, Chihuahua 32910, Mexico)

  • Federico Villarreal-Guerrero

    (Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Periférico Francisco R. Almada km 1, Chihuahua, Chihuahua 31453, Mexico)

Abstract

One of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources is solar energy. A strategic step for a well-performing solar project is site identification. The evaluation of site-suitability is a complex task, where multiple qualitative and quantitative criteria, inherent to the territory, are involved. In this study, a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology for site-suitability evaluation in the development of solar farms (DSF) is presented. Two scenarios, the ranking method (RM) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), each representing a different weighting approach, were tested. A case study was performed for the Desert of Chihuahua, Mexico, a region with the potential to provide a significant portion of the country’s energy demand. The RM was more stringent and identified less area with high suitability (1237 km 2 ) compared to the AHP (4983 km 2 ). Given its flexibility in assigning weights, the AHP is considered to have greater potential in identifying site-suitability levels. The final suitability maps of the AHP showed the northern part of the study region to have high suitability for the DSF. Thus, sites in this area could be used for the construction of solar energy projects in the future. This methodology provides a useful tool for land-use planning based on its suitability level.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesús A. Prieto-Amparán & Alfredo Pinedo-Alvarez & Carlos R. Morales-Nieto & María C. Valles-Aragón & Alan Álvarez-Holguín & Federico Villarreal-Guerrero, 2021. "A Regional GIS-Assisted Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Site-Suitability for the Development of Solar Farms," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:2:p:217-:d:503338
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    2. Kamali Saraji, Mahyar & Aliasgari, Elahe & Streimikiene, Dalia, 2023. "Assessment of the challenges to renewable energy technologies adoption in rural areas: A Fermatean CRITIC-VIKOR approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Zita Szabó & Viola Prohászka & Ágnes Sallay, 2021. "The Energy System of an Ecovillage: Barriers and Enablers," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Fakharizadehshirazi, Elham & Rösch, Christine, 2024. "A novel socio-techno-environmental GIS approach to assess the contribution of ground-mounted photovoltaics to achieve climate neutrality in Germany," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    5. 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.
    6. Zhang, Zhengjia & Wang, Qingxiang & Liu, Zhengguang & Chen, Qi & Guo, Zhiling & Zhang, Haoran, 2023. "Renew mineral resource-based cities: Assessment of PV potential in coal mining subsidence areas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    7. Abo-Zahhad, Essam M. & Rashwan, Ahmed & Salameh, Tareq & Hamid, Abdul Kadir & Faragalla, Asmaa & El-Dein, Adel Z. & Chen, Yong & Abdelhameed, Esam H., 2024. "Evaluation of solar PV-based microgrids viability utilizing single and multi-criteria decision analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    8. 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.
    9. Silvestro Cossu & Roberto Baccoli & Emilio Ghiani, 2021. "Utility Scale Ground Mounted Photovoltaic Plants with Gable Structure and Inverter Oversizing for Land-Use Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, May.

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