Evaluating the Suitability of Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic System Selection and the Differences Between Expert Assessments and Firm Location Preferences: A Case Study of Tainan City
Ping-Ching Chia,
Kojiro Sho,
Han-Yu Li,
Tai-Shan Hu () and
Chia-Chen Chang
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Ping-Ching Chia: Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chung Hua University, Hsinchu City 300110, Taiwan
Kojiro Sho: Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
Han-Yu Li: Department of Urban Planning, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 701401, Taiwan
Tai-Shan Hu: Department of Urban Planning, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 701401, Taiwan
Chia-Chen Chang: Department of Urban Planning, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 701401, Taiwan
Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-19
Abstract:
Responding to the challenges of global climate change and domestic air pollution, Taiwan revised its energy policy in recent years, introducing an energy transition strategy focused on low-carbon and clean energy. However, if photovoltaic installations are not properly sited, they may have negative impacts on the local environment. Previous research on renewable energy has primarily focused on policy evaluation, with limited attention given to case studies that examine the suitability of site selection for PV system installations. Thus, this study incorporates the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to explore the criteria for evaluating site suitability for ground-mounted PV systems. This study considers existing sites with completed ground-mounted PV systems in Tainan City as case study subjects. The results indicate that the most important factor, as prioritized by experts, is the distance from Class I environmentally sensitive areas, followed by the duration of insolation, proximity to the electrical grid, and distance from residential areas. The evaluation model developed in this study provides a valuable reference for future site selection of ground-mounted PV systems. Establishing dedicated PV energy parks also may offer a viable solution to mitigate disputes related to the deployment of ground-mounted PV systems.
Keywords: site selection for renewable energy; solar energy; ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system; Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:13:p:3559-:d:1695715
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