Feasibility Analysis of Offshore Wind Power Projects in the Caribbean Region of Colombia: A Case Study Using FAHP–GIS

Adalberto Ospino Castro (), Carlos Robles-Algarín, Luis Hernández-Callejo (), Yecid Muñoz Maldonado and Amanda Mangones Cordero
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Adalberto Ospino Castro: Departamento de Energía, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Carlos Robles-Algarín: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta 470003, Colombia
Luis Hernández-Callejo: Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y Forestal, Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Yecid Muñoz Maldonado: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga 680003, Colombia
Amanda Mangones Cordero: Departamento de Energía, Universidad de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 24, 1-19

Abstract: Planning for offshore wind energy projects is intricate due to the consideration of multiple variables in identifying optimal project areas. The primary challenge lies in locating suitable sites, a process that often necessitates extensive feasibility studies spanning several years. The primary goal of this study is to apply the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to prioritize criteria and sub-criteria, facilitating decision-making in choosing appropriate locations for offshore wind projects in the Colombian Caribbean Sea. The weights derived from FAHP were utilized in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze the physical characteristics of the Caribbean Sea’s surface. This tool plays a critical role in evaluating and selecting sites that fulfill established criteria, providing a database of indicators and map visualizations. Four criteria were defined: technical, environmental, social, and economic, along with fourteen sub-criteria, which were prioritized through FAHP based on expert judgment. The results revealed that the most relevant sub-criteria were protected areas and wind speed. Utilizing the ArcGIS Pro software, five zones meeting the predetermined criteria were identified, defining the most feasible areas for offshore wind farm installation, located in the departments of Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico and Bolívar. The GIS–FAHP methods proved to be useful for feasibility analysis.

Keywords: Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP); Geographic Information System (GIS); Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM); offshore wind projects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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