A GIS multiple criteria decision approach using AHP for solar power plant: the case of North Lebanon

Abstract

The electricity sector in Lebanon is known for its chronic inefficiency. The aging power plants, the lack of maintenance, and the shortage in funding are often cited as some of the major causes of the longstanding crisis. Lately, the influx of refugees and their colonization in the peripheral regions of Lebanon imposed additional demand. This aggravated the gap between limited production capacity and electricity demand. Power outages and rationing hours increased dramatically reaching 12 h daily in the majority of the Lebanese territories. Consequently, citizens diverted toward the sporadic informal electricity providers (IEP) or private diesel generators leading to a paramount emission of carbon due to excessive and uncontrolled fuel burning. To overcome both the environmental and electrical shortage dilemmas, the Lebanese government decided to shift toward alternative energy production especially wind farms and solar power plants (SPP). Deciding on a suitable location for solar power plants entails spatial analysis taking into account, among other factors, climatological, topographical, and economic restrictions. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method provides a robust process for evaluating and prioritizing alternative decisions in order to find an optimal location. Geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis and data visualization capabilities were exploited. A weighted linear combination (WLC) overlay analysis was carried out to generate suitable sites. The North Lebanon Governorate is the adopted case study. Based on the annual electric power generation potential, the study succeeded in selecting one appropriate region in the site of Amioun that can compensate for North Lebanon power deficit estimated to be around 300 MW. The site of Amioun has a total area of 2.8 km2 and can generate a minimum of 147 MW and a maximum of 467 MW of electricity given 25% efficiency for the SPP. Hence, the SPP at the site of Amioun can compensate for Kadisha’s power deficiency estimated to be around 300 MW, alleviate the current power crisis in the north, and supply clean green renewable energy. Additionally, this study developed a pioneer model for SPP site suitably analysis for North Lebanon that can be replicated across all the Lebanese territories.