Determination of potential solar power plant location using with AHP: Erzurum province example

Our world is faced with the energy need brought by increasing population and developing technology. This situation causes rapid depletion of non-renewable energy resources and harms the environment. For this reason, it has become even more significant to turn to clean and sustainable energy sources. At this point Solar energy is one of the most important alternatives . Türkiye is located in a very lucky geography in terms of solar energy potential. Our country has high sunshine duration and solar radiation. This situation offers ideal conditions for the installation of solar power plants. In recent years, solar energy investments have been increasing rapidly and significant developments made in this field. Determining a suitable location for the installation of solar power plants is crucial for the success of the investment. In this study, it was aimed to determine the most suitable places for the installation of solar power plants for Erzurum province. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Method (AHP), solar energy potential, land use, slope, aspect, distance to streams and lakes, distance to energy transmission lines, distance to roads, distance to settlements, distance to fault lines, lithology and protection 11 different criteria, such as areas with status, has been analyzed. As a result of the analyses, suitable regions for solar power plant installation in Erzurum province were obtained. When the results obtained were examined, it was seen that the Solar Power Plant areas in Erzurum province and the potential Solar Power Plant areas in the map produced has been compatible. Keywords: Analytical hierarchy process, Geographic information systems, Solar power plant, Erzurum