Wind Energy Resource Assessment and Development: Decision Analysis for Site Evaluation and Application

Abstract

In this article, a decision analysis methodology for wind energy resource assessment and development is developed and applied to the Larnaca District in Cyprus. The methodology consists of five steps: (i) formulation of a geo-data base and wind resource assessment with the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program; (ii) establishment of constraint factors that would exclude sites from further examination; (iii) establishment of evaluation criteria and evaluation of possible sites; (iv) assessment of the weights of the evaluation criteria through the Analytic Hierarchy Process; and (v) aggregation of the criteria with the Simple Additive Weighting method, visualization of the results, and sensitivity analysis. An application of the framework in Larnaca District area in the island of Cyprus indicated that 0.1% (0.58 km 2 ) of the study region is suitable for wind resource exploitation. The particular methodological framework applied and the results obtained can be utilized by potential investors and wind energy developers.

Optimal site selection for sitting a solar park using multi-criteria decision analysis and geographical information systems

“…Although there are several implementations of siting models within the GIS framework (Carrion et al, 2008;Tegou et al, 2010;Kontos et al, 2005;Georgiou et al, 2012;Maser et al, 2006;Ramachandra et al, 2007), the combination of MCA, AHP, and a GIS in an integrated platform is not common. In this article, a decision analysis methodological framework for solar energy exploitation and site evaluation is developed and applied in the Limassol district in Cyprus.…”

“…It helps to capture both qualitative and quantitative aspects of a decision problem and provides a powerful yet simple way of weighting the decision criteria, thus reducing bias in decision-making (Saaty, 1987;Georgiou et al, 2012). The AHP is based on pairwise comparisons and used to derive normalized absolute scales of numbers, whose elements are then used as priorities.…”

“…The SI lies between 0 and 100, corresponding to the "worst" and "best" sites, respectively. The applied formulation is (Georgiou et al, 2012)…”

“…One of the most common GIS-based strategies that have been designed to facilitate decision making in site evaluation and land suitability is multi-criteria analysis (MCA) (Torres-Sibille et al, 2009). The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method that introduced by Saaty (1980) is a flexible and easily implemented MCA technique and its use has been largely explored in the literature with many examples in locating facilities and land suitability analysis (Tegou et al, 2010;Kontos et al, 2005;Georgiou et al, 2012;Masera et al, 2006).…”

“…Applications of GISs and renewable energy source planning include wind farm sitting, photovoltaic electrification, biomass evaluation, visual impact assessment of wind farm, etc. (Tegou et al, 2010;Georgiou et al, 2012;Masera et al, 2006;Ramachandra and Shruthi, 2007). One of the most common GIS-based strategies that have been designed to facilitate decision making in site evaluation and land suitability is multi-criteria analysis (MCA) (Torres-Sibille et al, 2009).…”