Evaluation of Solar Farm Sites in Karbala Governorate Using GIS and Fuzzy Hierarchy Techniques

Abstract

The rapid growth of renewable energy has become a cornerstone of the contemporary global energy landscape. Solar energy, with its vast potential, holds promise for meeting the escalating energy demands and expanding its prominence within the energy sector. This research aims to assess feasible locations for the establishment of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Karbala Governorate, situated in central Iraq. In this research, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and techniques were used within the framework of a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methodology. Data were collected from several reliable sources, including the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization, the Ministry of Planning, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS). These sources helped to create a realistic picture of the environmental conditions and infrastructure in the study area. The research first identifies and assigns weights to various factors (such as slope, solar radiation, proximity to power grid, distance from urban areas, proximity to road networks, distance from water bodies, Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), precipitation, proximity to fault lines, and annual dust accumulation) that influence the suitability of potential solar PV plant sites. This is achieved through the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), which discerns distinct categories of suitability. Subsequently, all layers are transformed into fuzzy membership layers to delineate constraints across the study area, thereby accentuating unsuitable sites. The culmination of this effort involves multiplying the fuzzy-weighted set of relevant factors by the fuzzy-logic layer to produce the final suitability map. Upon scrutinizing the results, it becomes apparent that constraints envelop 83% of the study area, while a discernible 17% meets the requisite criteria, rendering them suitable for the establishment of utility-scale solar installations. Notably, a significant proportion of these potential areas is located near power transmission infrastructure and urban centers, highlighting their economic viability and potential impact.