GIS-and AHP-based Decision Systems for Evaluating Optimal Locations of Photovoltaic Power Plants: Case Study of Republic of North Macedonia

Adjiski, Vancho and Serafimovski, Dalibor (2024) GIS-and AHP-based Decision Systems for Evaluating Optimal Locations of Photovoltaic Power Plants: Case Study of Republic of North Macedonia. Geomatics and environmental engineering, 18 (1). pp. 51-82. ISSN 2300-7095

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Abstract

This study employs a geographic information system (GIS) and an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to identify optimal locations for photovoltaic (PV) solar farms in the Republic of North Macedonia. It assesses land suitability using six criteria (solar irradiance, aspect, slope, distance from power lines, roads, and urban areas) and six constraints (urban settlements, agricultural zones, national parks, water bodies, steep slopes, elevations above 1500 m). A suitability map was created using a matrix of pairwise comparisons, and the weights for each criterion were calculated. The map was divided into four categories: highly suitable, suitable, less suitable, and unsuitable. The results showed that 11.6% of the study area was classified as being highly suitable, 40.1% as suitable, 3.6% as less suitable, and 0.8% as unsuitable. Additionally, restricted areas (comprised of national parks, residential and agricultural lands, elevations above 1500 m, and water surfaces with 1000 m buffer zones) accounted for 43.7% of the study area. Utilizing just 0.6% of highly suitable land for PV technology could generate approximately 2870 GWh annually, enough to meet the average electricity needs of the industrial sector across the eight administrative regions of R. N. Macedonia. The study offers a replicable GIS-based approach for solar energy planning, contributing to sustainable development and providing insights for integrating solar PV systems into the national energy strategy.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), renewable energy, solar farm, suitability map, sustainable energy planning
Subjects:	Engineering and Technology > Other engineering and technologies
Divisions:	Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences
Depositing User:	Vanco Adziski
Date Deposited:	25 Jan 2024 13:24
Last Modified:	09 Feb 2024 11:55
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/33310

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