Site suitability assessment for solar power plants in Bangladesh: A GIS-based analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach

Solar power plants are important alternatives to fossil fuel-based power plants because they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. The potential of harnessing solar energy is highly dependent on selecting the optimal locations for plant installation. This study primarily aims to select optimal sites for solar energy plant installation using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. In the underlying processing phase, the AHP method was used to calculate the relative weights of the study area's physiographic, utility, and climate data. These weights were then used in the MCDA to identify the optimal locations for solar plants. The results of the MCDA were presented in the form of a solar plant suitability map, which showed that 44.59 % (66506.49 km2) of the study area in the south and southwest of Bangladesh is highly suitable for the development of utility scale solar power plants. In contrast, there are substantial areas of about 31.18 % (46507.37 km2) of the country where the installation of any type of power plant is completely prohibited. This research can help authorities and stakeholders decide where to invest in solar energy.