Integrating AHP and GIS as a decision-making tool for the optimal allocation of wind farm: A case study of Syria

Abstract

Abstract Nowadays, renewable energy is commonly applied to ensure a sustainable development and minimize the reliance on fossil fuels. Wind is considered as one of the most significant inexhaustible sources of energy for power generation through turbines. However, choosing an appropriate site of wind farm and designing a turbine array to fit it are a key issue to success as expected. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has been widely accepted in a number of areas as a decision support system based on analyzing geospatial data to facilitate reaching desired results in shorter time and less cost. The process of establishing the best-suited location of wind parks require analysis of spatial multi-criteria within a GIS environment using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This research focuses on defining the main factors that influence wind energy development and presents GIS-based land suitability analysis model to determine the optimal allocation of wind farm in Syria. As a part of this study, the procedure of designing geodatabase for wind power plants is illustrated that includes conceptual, logical, and physical design phases. The results show efficiency of the integrated technique in site suitability evaluation of the presented case.