Why is site selection important for solar PV power plants?

Site selection for the utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar farm is a critical issue due to its direct impact on the power performance, economic, environmental, social aspects, and existing as well as future infrastructures. In this chapter, we conduct a literature review on site selection of solar PV power plants.

What are the criteria for solar PV site selection?

The results show that the most important criteria for solar PV site selection are solar radiation, economic performance indicators (net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and return on investment (ROI)), carbon emission savings, and policy support. 1. Introduction

How to select a site for a solar power plant?

While developing a utility-scale solar power plant, various factors or criteria have to be taken care of in selecting the site location. Probable Site Selection of Photovoltaic Power Plant (PVPP) is a complex MCDM process, as the required site has to be climatically and geographically acceptable. It must also have the highest generation potentials.

Do criteria affect site selection of solar photovoltaic projects?

Criteria include technical, economic, environmental, and social/political aspects. The proposed model can be extended to other decision making problems. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of importance of criteria affecting site selection of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects using a decision-making model.

Do photovoltaic sites enhance the integration of renewable sources?

The performance of the proposed method is assessed in the service area of an Ecuadorian power utility. Scenarios considering solar potential and the massive penetration of a new type of load are assessed to define the photovoltaic sites that enhance the integration of renewable sources in the case study.

How to choose a suitable location for solar PV power plants?

The installation of solar PV power plants requires vast land and huge investment. Therefore, it is necessary to select a suitable site to achieve maximum efficiency and low cost. A feasible location of photovoltaic (PV) system must consider certain criteria including land restrictions, access to roads, and transmission lines.