IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i7p2895-d1367383.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimal Location of Solar Photovoltaic Plants Using Geographic Information Systems and Multi-Criteria Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Julio Manuel de Luis-Ruiz

    (Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain)

  • Benito Ramiro Salas-Menocal

    (Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain)

  • Raúl Pereda-García

    (Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain)

  • Rubén Pérez-Álvarez

    (Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain)

  • Javier Sedano-Cibrián

    (Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain)

  • Carolina Ruiz-Fernández

    (Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain)

Abstract

Nowadays, solar energy is considered to be one of the most developed renewable energy sources, and its production capacity has increased in recent years. To optimize yields and production, the correct selection of the location of these plants is essential. This research develops a methodological proposal that allows for detecting and evaluating the most appropriate places to implement solar photovoltaic plants almost automatically through GIS tools. A multi-criteria analysis is proposed to analyze large extensions of land with ten duly weighted criteria that cover the energy and territorial requirements that any installation must meet. The method assigns each site a location coefficient that reflects the weighting of the chosen criteria so that the value ordered from highest to lowest reflects the best to the worst location. Unlike other research works that can be considered similar, the methodological proposal is much more consistent than traditional alternatives as it uses a multi-criteria analysis and a weighting mechanism that is also statistically consistent, objective, and based on logical criteria. This innovative methodology is applied to Cantabria (north of Spain), although it could be used for other contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Julio Manuel de Luis-Ruiz & Benito Ramiro Salas-Menocal & Raúl Pereda-García & Rubén Pérez-Álvarez & Javier Sedano-Cibrián & Carolina Ruiz-Fernández, 2024. "Optimal Location of Solar Photovoltaic Plants Using Geographic Information Systems and Multi-Criteria Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:2895-:d:1367383
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/7/2895/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/7/2895/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas L. Saaty, 1986. "Axiomatic Foundation of the Analytic Hierarchy Process," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(7), pages 841-855, July.
    2. Muhammed Y. Worku & Mohamed A. Hassan & Luqman S. Maraaba & Md Shafiullah & Mohamed R. Elkadeem & Md Ismail Hossain & Mohamed A. Abido, 2023. "A Comprehensive Review of Recent Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques for Photovoltaic Systems under Partial Shading," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-28, July.
    3. Yen-Chieh Chen & Hsiao-Li Yao & Shou-Der Weng & Yang-Fei Tai, 2022. "An Analysis of the Optimal Facility Location of Tourism Industry in Plain Region by Utilizing GIS," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    4. Cullen, Ross, 2017. "Evaluating renewable energy policies," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 61(1), January.
    5. Thomas Huld & Ana M. Gracia Amillo, 2015. "Estimating PV Module Performance over Large Geographical Regions: The Role of Irradiance, Air Temperature, Wind Speed and Solar Spectrum," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Ross Cullen, 2017. "Evaluating renewable energy policies," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 61(1), pages 1-18, January.
    7. M. M. Hasan & Shakhawat Hossain & M. Mofijur & Zobaidul Kabir & Irfan Anjum Badruddin & T. M. Yunus Khan & Esam Jassim, 2023. "Harnessing Solar Power: A Review of Photovoltaic Innovations, Solar Thermal Systems, and the Dawn of Energy Storage Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-30, September.
    8. Larbi Chrifi-Alaoui & Saïd Drid & Mohammed Ouriagli & Driss Mehdi, 2023. "Overview of Photovoltaic and Wind Electrical Power Hybrid Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-35, June.
    9. Djamila Rekioua, 2023. "Energy Storage Systems for Photovoltaic and Wind Systems: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-26, May.
    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. Sofia Spyridonidou & Eva Loukogeorgaki & Dimitra G. Vagiona & Teresa Bertrand, 2022. "Towards a Sustainable Spatial Planning Approach for PV Site Selection in Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-22, November.
    2. 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.
    3. Melendez, Jesus R. & Mátyás, Bence & Hena, Sufia & Lowy, Daniel A. & El Salous, Ahmed, 2022. "Perspectives in the production of bioethanol: A review of sustainable methods, technologies, and bioprocesses," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Banai, Reza, 2010. "Evaluation of land use-transportation systems with the Analytic Network Process," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 3(1), pages 85-112.
    5. Federica Cucchiella & Idiano D’Adamo & Paolo Rosa, 2015. "Industrial Photovoltaic Systems: An Economic Analysis in Non-Subsidized Electricity Markets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-16, November.
    6. Hamed Khodayar Sahebi & Siamak Hoseinzadeh & Hossein Ghadamian & Mohammad Hadi Ghasemi & Farbod Esmaeilion & Davide Astiaso Garcia, 2021. "Techno-Economic Analysis and New Design of a Photovoltaic Power Plant by a Direct Radiation Amplification System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-18, October.
    7. Guh, Yuh-Yuan, 1997. "Introduction to a new weighting method -- Hierarchy consistency analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 102(1), pages 215-226, October.
    8. Xiaoxia Li, 2022. "Research on the Development Level of Rural E-Commerce in China Based on Analytic Hierarchy and Systematic Clustering Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    9. Tang, Daogui & Fang, Yi-Ping & Zio, Enrico, 2023. "Vulnerability analysis of demand-response with renewable energy integration in smart grids to cyber attacks and online detection methods," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    10. Danijela Tuljak-Suban & Patricija Bajec, 2022. "A Hybrid DEA Approach for the Upgrade of an Existing Bike-Sharing System with Electric Bikes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-23, October.
    11. Bhatta, Arun & Bigsby, Hugh R. & Cullen, Ross, 2011. "Alternative to Comprehensive Ecosystem Services Markets: The Contribution of Forest-Related Programs in New Zealand," 2011 Conference, August 25-26, 2011, Nelson, New Zealand 115350, New Zealand Agricultural and Resource Economics Society.
    12. Hoene, Andreas & Jawale, Mandar & Neukirchen, Thomas & Bednorz, Nicole & Schulz, Holger & Hauser, Simon, 2019. "Bewertung von Technologielösungen für Automatisierung und Ergonomieunterstützung der Intralogistik," ild Schriftenreihe 64, FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management, Institut für Logistik- & Dienstleistungsmanagement (ild).
    13. Wenshuai Wu & Gang Kou, 2016. "A group consensus model for evaluating real estate investment alternatives," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 2(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. M. M. Hasan & Shakhawat Hossain & M. Mofijur & Zobaidul Kabir & Irfan Anjum Badruddin & T. M. Yunus Khan & Esam Jassim, 2023. "Harnessing Solar Power: A Review of Photovoltaic Innovations, Solar Thermal Systems, and the Dawn of Energy Storage Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-30, September.
    15. Kaplanis, S. & Kaplani, E. & Kaldellis, J.K., 2022. "PV temperature and performance prediction in free-standing, BIPV and BAPV incorporating the effect of temperature and inclination on the heat transfer coefficients and the impact of wind, efficiency a," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 235-249.
    16. Ya-Qiang Xu & Le-Sheng Jin & Zhen-Song Chen & Ronald R. Yager & Jana Špirková & Martin Kalina & Surajit Borkotokey, 2022. "Weight Vector Generation in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making with Basic Uncertain Information," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-11, February.
    17. Hsin-Chieh Wu & Toly Chen & Chin-Hau Huang, 2020. "A Piecewise Linear FGM Approach for Efficient and Accurate FAHP Analysis: Smart Backpack Design as an Example," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-18, August.
    18. Hartvigsen, David, 2005. "Representing the strengths and directions of pairwise comparisons," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 163(2), pages 357-369, June.
    19. Azam Abdolazimi & Mehdi Momeni & Majid Montazeri, 2015. "Comparing ELECTRE and Linear Assignment Methods in Zoning Shahroud-Bastam Watershed for Artificial Recharge of Groundwater with GIS Technique," Modern Applied Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(1), pages 1-68, January.
    20. Sudipa Choudhury & Apu Kumar Saha & Mrinmoy Majumder, 2020. "Optimal location selection for installation of surface water treatment plant by Gini coefficient-based analytical hierarchy process," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 4073-4099, June.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:7:p:2895-:d:1367383. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.