Determine the areas to establish a solar energy in Ağrı province using GIS method

The population of Turkey is continually increasing, its industry is expanding, and energy consumption is steadily rising. These conditions have compelled Turkey to turn towards various energy sources to meet its energy needs. Strategically positioned in terms of solar energy potential, Turkey has the advantage of utilizing the sun, an unlimited resource, for energy production. The appropriate site selection for solar energy power plants is one of the most critical conditions for sustainable and profitable utilization of solar energy. In this process, Geographic Information Systems, which are influenced by numerous parameters, offer a significant advantage over other traditional methods. In the site selection for solar energy power plants, not only physical factors like solar energy potential, elevation, direction, slope, precipitation, humidity, cloud cover, and land use are effective, but other factors such as transportation, energy transmission lines, and security also play a role. The aim of this study is to facilitate the rapid diffusion of emerging solar energy technologies, identify the most suitable locations as geographers, ensure the proper installation of solar power plants, and determine the most appropriate areas for high efficiency. For the rapidly spreading solar energy technologies in our country, the data collected for the site selection of areas where a solar energy power plant will be established in the city center of Ağrı have been evaluated in a GIS environment using a multi-criteria decision analysis method. This study serves as a model site selection study. Analyses have been guided by taking into consideration the relevant articles of the solar energy regulation, criteria used in previous studies related to the subject, and the current situation of the study area. Nine data layers (solar energy potential, slope, direction, land use, rivers, settlement areas, highways network, energy transmission lines, transformer centers) prepared using the AHP method in the GIS environment have been analyzed. Based on the results of the analyses, site selection for areas where a solar energy power plant will be established has been carried out.