Multi-level constraints wind farms siting for a complex terrain in a tropical region using MCDM approach coupled with GIS

Tyagaraja S.M. Cunden, Jay Doorga, Michel R. Lollchund and Soonil D.D.V. Rughooputh

Energy, 2020, vol. 211, issue C

Abstract: This paper presents a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) process together with Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyse multiple constraints that affect the siting of wind farms. Firstly, exclusion zones are identified and are removed from the potential wind farm placement regions of the wind resource map layer. A set of nine selected evaluation criteria are weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in order to quantify their impacts on the placements of the wind farms. Constraints such as buffer zones and suitability scores are developed. Using these constraints, raster layers including the proximity to road network and high voltage transmission lines are created. Theses layers are then superimposed on raster layers comprising of high-resolution terrain DEM and raster dataset for wind speed and direction. The combination of the raster layers is done using the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) technique to yield a wind resource map highlighting the regions for wind farms placements, classified according to their potential wind power density. As a case study, the methodology is applied to the island of Mauritius which has a complex topography.

Keywords: Wind farm siting; GIS; Decision criteria; MCDM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:211:y:2020:i:c:s0360544220316418

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.118533

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