Suitability Analysis Using GIS-Based AHP-MCDM for Solar Farm Site Selection in Tanjero Subdistrict

A Study in the Geography of Energy

Abstract

Nowadays, electricity is one of the most essential and basic daily necessities for human beings everywhere. Hence, ensuring its supply is the primary responsibility of governments. Throughout the Kurdistan Region, and especially in the study area, the government mainly relies on dams and fossil fuels to generate electricity, but still can’t meet the all the electricity demands of citizens. However, there is a lack of systematic studies identifying optimal locations for solar power plants in the study area to reduce reliance on polluting generators. Therefore, to cover the electricity shortfall, the government depends on another source - generators that they run on fossil fuels, which are major environmental polluter. Whereas, to address this energy shortage, it can get benefits from eco-friendly green energy. Because if we consider the abundance of sunny days in the study area, solar power is an effective alternative for generators. Accordingly, in this study the most suitable site analysis for establishing solar power plants has been carried out. As well, to obtain the scientifically and more accurate result, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which it belongs to multi criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, was used. As a result, the study area is highly suitable for generating electricity from solar energy, with approximately 30 percent of the area identified as appropriate for installing photovoltaic panels.