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 km2) compared to the AHP (4983 km2). 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.
Highlights
Per capita energy consumption is one of the main indices for assessing the development of societies [1] due to the key role energy plays in economic activities
This study presents an approach based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify suitable sites for the development of solar farms in the Desert of Chihuahua, Mexico
The MCDM included topographical, environmental, and infrastructure criteria based on expert knowledge, as well as data available from the study region
Summary
Per capita energy consumption is one of the main indices for assessing the development of societies [1] due to the key role energy plays in economic activities. The world economy is highly dependent on fossil energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas [2]; natural reserves of fossil fuels are limited and expected to be exhausted in the century if consumption continues at the current rate [3]. The worldwide energy demand has increased so rapidly that, by 2050, anthropogenic energy use may double or even triple. The global demand for electricity and heat is a major concern and this challenge is being tackled by developing safe and sustainable energy conversion systems [8]. Increasing energy production from renewable sources can contribute to several of the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030, adopted by world leaders in 2015 at a historic UN Summit [9]. It is essential to promote massive energy resource projects that are environmentally friendly, renewable, and sustainable [10]
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