Solar Farm Site Selection Using Spatial Multi Criteria Evaluation Method: A Case Study of Kewet Wereda, North-Center Ethiopia.
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Date
2021-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Solar energy can provide a great opportunity for alternative energy source and development of the nation of the country. It can access freely throughout earth surface so, solar energy is good alternative energy source for solving limitation of power especially when there is drought. Therefore, this thesis aims to select suitable solar farm sites by using spatial multi criteria evaluation method in Kewet Wereda. Different spatial and non-spatial data such as solar radiation, slope, aspect, LULC, proximity distance to road, proximity distance to sub-station site, proximity distance to river, proximity distance to railway and proximity distance to town have been used to identify and map area. Some parameter data are taken from 30 meter resolution of DEM such as solar radiation, slope, aspect and river streams. Analytical Hierarchy process (AHP) was used for calculation of the criteria weighted overlay to produce a suitable solar farm site map.
The result shows that solar radiation has the highest weight and distance to river has the lowest weight with 36.6% and 3.4%, respectively. In addition, optimal solar farm sites were identified and highly suitable area found in the south, southeast and northeast part of the study area and covers 35988.71 hectare area. This potential zone contributes to fill the energy gap between the demand and supply of the country when there is a shortage of railfall through the country and shortage of water at the dam. It is also used as bridge for energy gap between rural and urban communities.
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Solar radiation, Spatial Multi criteria Evaluation Method, Solar farm site selection, Kewet wereda