Optimal Location of Solar Photovoltaic Plants Using Geographic Information Systems and Multi-Criteria Analysis

Julio Manuel de Luis-Ruiz, Benito Ramiro Salas-Menocal, Raúl Pereda-García, Rubén Pérez-Álvarez, Javier Sedano-Cibrián () and Carolina Ruiz-Fernández
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Julio Manuel de Luis-Ruiz: Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Benito Ramiro Salas-Menocal: Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Raúl Pereda-García: Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Rubén Pérez-Álvarez: Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Javier Sedano-Cibrián: Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain
Carolina Ruiz-Fernández: Grupo de Investigación de Ingeniería Cartográfica y Explotación de Minas, Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Minas y Energía, Universidad de Cantabria, Boulevard Ronda Rufino Peón, 254, Tanos, 39300 Torrelavega, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: Nowadays, solar energy is considered to be one of the most developed renewable energy sources, and its production capacity has increased in recent years. To optimize yields and production, the correct selection of the location of these plants is essential. This research develops a methodological proposal that allows for detecting and evaluating the most appropriate places to implement solar photovoltaic plants almost automatically through GIS tools. A multi-criteria analysis is proposed to analyze large extensions of land with ten duly weighted criteria that cover the energy and territorial requirements that any installation must meet. The method assigns each site a location coefficient that reflects the weighting of the chosen criteria so that the value ordered from highest to lowest reflects the best to the worst location. Unlike other research works that can be considered similar, the methodological proposal is much more consistent than traditional alternatives as it uses a multi-criteria analysis and a weighting mechanism that is also statistically consistent, objective, and based on logical criteria. This innovative methodology is applied to Cantabria (north of Spain), although it could be used for other contexts.

Keywords: renewable energy; methodology; Saaty; weighting; factors; consistency; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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