Optimal solar photovoltaic site selection using geographic information system–based modeling techniques and assessing environmental and economic impacts: The case of Kurdistan

Abstract

This study explores the potential of solar photovoltaic farms in Kurdistan Province, Iran, using Geographic Information System–based site-selection methods (analytic hierarchy process, network analysis process, and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution). The spatial-analysis results show that11.19% of the study area is suitable for photovoltaic farms, with medium suitability accounting for10.05% and high suitability accounting for1.14%. The high-suitability areas have the potential to generate3.2% of Iran’s total electricity consumption and100% of Kurdistan’s total electricity consumption. The construction of these farms would create an average of73,154job-years in construction and7,878permanent jobs in operation and maintenance, with transfer benefits of $201.9million during construction and $39.76million annually in operation and maintenance. Additionally, constructing photovoltaic farms would reduce100% of CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions in Kurdistan and potentially address the cross-border labor issue. The induced social benefits from replacing natural gas–generated energy with solar energy are estimated to be $154,224.3, resulting from reductions in CO2, SO2, and NOx gas emissions and lower premature mortality with an estimated benefit of $25.3million. These results can inform policy and investment strategies for renewable energy development in regions with similar environmental and economic conditions.