A suitability mapping for the PV solar farms in Egypt based on GIS-AHP to optimize multi-criteria feasibility

Abstract

Nowadays, photovoltaic (PV) are considered a promising alternative solution as a clean energy source. The power output from the solar PV module is proportional to the amount of solar radiation received by its surface. Hence, the determination of the most convenient locations of PV systems is crucial to maximize their output power. In this paper, the most suitable sites of PV farms in Egypt are identified based on the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) technique using the geographic information system (GIS) software. Four categories have been taken into acount; location, environment, meteorology, and climatology, to select the suitable locations. Based on experts’ knowledge ten criteria belong to the main categiories have been weighted using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and combined in PV land suitabliltiy index which maped using GIS techniques. The conducted suitability map could be used to guiding installation of renewable energy projects in the future.

Keywords

• PV farms
• Suitability mapping
• GIS
• Analytical hierarchy process
• MCDM-AHP
• Solar radiation