GIS based suitability analysis for identification of suitable sites for establishment of solar power plants a case study: Moroto district, Uganda.

Abstract

Geographical Information System (GIS) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are the standard techniques used to examine the suitable sites for solar plants. The most important issue for establishing a solar plant is the identification of proper locations that meet the bear minimum for a suitable site. Site suitability is a way for understanding the existing site locations and also the elements that will help to decide the sites for a certain activity. This report explains the usage of GIS and AHP techniques for selection of most suitable sites for developing a solar PV plant in the district of Moroto found in Karamoja region of Uganda. Road, Digital Elevation Models, Land Cover Land Use data, protected area and other different data sets have been used to produce different thematic layers by using software like ArcGIS. Criteria using connectivity of roads but away from highways, away from major residential areas, away from protected areas, land use/land cover, Transmission lines, land proximity and other geographical information has been used for the analysis of the suitable site by properly evaluating the different data sets. By measuring each criterion according to the importance, certain weights of each criterion is created. These weights and maps has been combined using ArcGIS tools and the final map was prepared showing the suitable sites.