Site suitability analysis of Solar PV Power generation in South Gonder, Amhara Region

Abstract Currently, Ethiopian government looked towards renewable energy resources to generate electrical power for the country needs. 85% of the total population of the country live in rural areas and use wood and fossil fuel for their domestic uses. Using wood and fossil fuel is danger for users and the environment. And the government of Ethiopia planned to electrify 85% rural community with abundantly available renewable resources around the community. Therefore, identifying potential locations for solar Photovoltaic with geographic information system is a decision support tool for proposing the suitable sites to stakeholder. The solar Photovoltaic suitability analysis provides optimal locations to solar Photovoltaic power plant installations. To find suitable locations for Solar Photovoltaic , factors that affect the suitability were identified and weighted by using Analytical Hierarchy processes. Then the weighted values and reclassified values were multiplied together to produce the final suitability map to solar Photovoltaic. Due to site unsuitability, solar Photovoltaic the efficiency drops and may malfunction. By identifying the most suitable locations, solar PV power plant was optimally located. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find the most suitable sites in South Gonder Zone for generating power from solar Photovoltaic . The suitability of the study area for solar Photovoltaic power plant was 86.5%. Eighty six (86%) of the criteria considered in the study area was found to fulfill all the criteria to be suitable for solar Photovoltaic power plant. Most of the suitable areas were found in the western part of the zone. Nature topography is a key factor in generating solar energy; it affects the solar irradiance coming to the solar Photovoltaic panel surface.