Publikationsdatum:
2022
Beschreibung:
〈p〉〈em〉By now, the world is shifting its energy source from nonrenewable energy to renewable energy in need of sustainable energy source, mitigating environmental and climatic problems. Renewable energy sources are sufficient and environmentally friendly. Ethiopia has a significant potential in hydro, solar, wind, and geothermal energy source. Particularly, in the study area, Somali region, there is significant amount of solar energy potential ranging from a minimum of 1,772.557983 Wh/m〈sup〉2 〈/sup〉(approximately 1,772 Kwh/m〈sup〉2〈/sup〉) and maximum of 2,476.39502 Wh/m〈sup〉2〈/sup〉 (approximately 2,476 Kwh/m〈sup〉2〈/sup〉) per year. Even though, the zone has not given sufficient consideration to its opportunities. But, currently, in the country’s ten year strategic plan, the government gives significant attention to invest on this abundant energy source. To make this abundant amount of solar energy useful and functional, identifying and selecting suitable site/s for the development of solar power plants are very crucial. This paper focuses on suitability analysis for identifying and selecting suitable site/s using〈/em〉〈em〉 Geographic Information System (GIS) and multi criteria based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)〈/em〉〈em〉 by taking into account factors like solar energy potential〈/em〉〈em〉, 〈/em〉〈em〉slope, aspect, land use land cover, proximity to road, proximity to electric main grid and distribution lines, proximity to river/streams, technical and socio economic aspects. 〈/em〉〈em〉AHP method was adopted to determine the weight of each criterion.〈/em〉〈em〉 〈/em〉〈em〉Suitable areas were identified through a linear overlay of spatially distributed weighted criteria using a GIS solution. Criteria GIS layers were converted into rated value layers using four grades and by combining the rating value layers with the weightings, a site suitability map was developed, in 〈/em〉〈em〉high〈/em〉〈em〉, 〈/em〉〈em〉moderate, 〈/em〉〈em〉low and unsuitable. Accordingly, 〈/em〉〈em〉in the study area, nearly about 11.51% highly suitable for solar farm development and about 77.63% of the study area is moderately suitable. Thus, with some modifications and investment 89.14% of the study area is suitable to deploy solar farm. Contrary to this 10.85% is less or unsuitable for the development of solar farm in the region because of some restrictive factors which are not suitable for solar farm installation and development. 〈/em〉〈em〉〈/em〉〈/p〉
Print ISSN:
2321-421X
Digitale ISSN:
2230-7990
Thema:
Geographie
,
Geologie und Paläontologie
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