Optimal site selection for solar power stations in the Nakhichevan AR

Since the electrical power output by converting total solar radiation using PV cells is low, it is necessary to identify areas with high solar radiation. However, low efficiency of PV panels (14‒18%) and the low intensity of total solar radiation on a horizontal surface require a large installation space to achieve a certain power level. Due to the high cost of installing solar power plants, a comprehensive systematic assessment of the geographic factors of a region is necessary to select the most suitable location. The reason we chos e Nakhichevan as a study area is that the radiation level is high compared to other regions of Azerbaijan (1220‒1699 kWh/m2 per year), and the annual duration of sunshine exceeds 2500 hours. Since the creation of solar power plants in regions with high values of the total radiation on a horizontal surface generally depends on technical, economic and environmental criteria, the areas corresponding to high criteria values in the model were thoroughly investigated using balanced comparison to identify suitable sites. The Analytical Process Hierarchy (AHP) model, based on Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods, was used to identify suitable locations for solar power plants. In the first phase of the study seven criteria were analyzed to determine suitable locations, i.e. total solar radiation on a horizontal surface, slope gradient, land use, buffer distance from areas with high annual solar energy potential to residential areas, proximity to substations, highways and power supply lines. In the second stage the degree of accessibility and suitability of areas according to certain criteria was determined using the Weighted Overlay tool in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). As a result of the study, it was concluded that 9,5% (510 km2) of the area of Nakhichevan has high suitability, 12% (645 km2) ‒ average suitability and 24% (1290 km2) ‒ low suitability for placing solar power plants. The remaining 54,5% (2930 km2) of the region are unsuitable territories because of low radiation, high slope, the presence of protected areas, settlements and agricultural areas, and poorly developed infrastructure. Optimal locations are mainly in the southern and eastern parts of the region, as shown in the polygon shape on the suitability map.

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