Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Site Selection Using Multi criteria Approach: Case Of East Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Solar Energy Replacing Conventional Non-Renewable Energy Has Been Widely Implemented Around The World. Before Installing Solar Panels, Assessing Where Solar Panels Should Beplaced Can Significantly Benefit Panel Performance. The Goal Of This Study Was To Identify And Map The Most Suitable Sites For Solar Power Plant Using Multi Criteria GIS Modeling Ineast Shewa Zone.This Study Demonstrated The Use Of Spatial Analysis And GIS Techniques For Identifying Potential Solar Panel Installation Sites At Macro-Scales. To Achieve The Stated Objective, Asuite Of Physical, Economic And Environmental Factors Were Selected As Criteria To Model The Most Suitable Location For Solar Power Plant Site. Water Bodies, Forest And Urban Land Which Extracted From Classified Land Use Land Cover Were Used As A Constraint For Solar Power Plant Site. Boolean Overlay (Applied For The Three Constraint Factor) And Weighted Overlay Of Factors Using AHP Approach Were Used To Model The Final Solar Power Plant Ineast Shewa Zone.The Final Solar Farm Site Suitability Map Reveals That The Study Area Was Divided In To Five Different Classes. The Area Under More Suitable, Moderate Suitable, Suitable, Less Suitable And Unsuitable (Restricted Area) Stands At 1%, 27%, 44%, 11% And 17% Respectively And The Technical Potential Of More Suitable Area Computed/Assessed. In This Study, The More Suitable Site Were Categorized In To Six Solar Farm Classes, And Evaluated, Prioritized And Ranked Depending On Their Estimated Technical Potential, Size, Distance From Nearby The Road And Distance From Nearby Transmission Line And The Result Showed That Solar Farm Site6 Is The Most Suitable Site And The Estimated Technical Potential Of The Selected Site 322.25MW) While Solar Farm Site 2 And Solar Farm Site5,Placed On The Second And Third Rank With309.38MW And 317.40MW Respectively.