Multi Criteria Decision Analysis Technique for Solar Power Sites Selection in Duhok Governorate – Iraq

Abstract

Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy, used particularly in developing countries. There are insufficient fossil fuels and their availability is gradually declining. This leads to a steady increase in prices. Renewable energy is clean, cost-effective and limitless. The considerable population growth and industrial growth have made the construction of solar power plants essential in developing countries. The study used Boolean logical-AHP techniques to select a suitable site for solar power in Duhok Governorate. The result indicated that 68.5% of the area in the governorate of Duhok is available for solar power station construction, especially the most appropriate zone which has 132.2 sq. km and can provide more than 8000 megawatts of solar energy. Most of the appropriate areas are in the south and southwest regions of the governorate, located mostly in the districts of Bardarash, Shekhan and Semel, situated between the major cities of Mosul, Erbil and Duhok. These locations can supply a significant amount of clean, renewable energy for these areas.

Study of Global Solar Radiation in Duhok Province

“…The data for Akre station is for the period of five years (2013-2017), while for Amedi and Bamarni stations for the period of six years (2015-2020) and the other three stations through seven years' period (2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020)(2021). Figure ( 1) shows the location map of the study area (Duhok province) (Ibrahim, 2021). To measure the GSR in these stations, a QMS101 pyranometer manufactured by Vaisala Company has been utilized.…”