IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v301y2024ics0360544224013963.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrating spatial data and multi-criteria analysis for wind farm suitability mapping in eastern Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Salih, Abdelrahim
  • Hassaballa, Abdalhaleem A.
  • Eltawil, Mohamed A.

Abstract

Wind energy offers significant potential for Saudi Arabia's energy future. This framework integrates wind farm suitability analysis with spatially explicit groundwater potential mapping. So, revealing prospective windy sites as optimal zones for wind farm installation has become a vital issue for wind farms in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. To power clean energy and groundwater pumping, we deployed a unique blend of multi-criteria decision-making and spatial analysis. Several suitability criteria (17 factors) were used, including wind power density, land cover, and infrastructure, via a two-pronged approach. Five key factors were analyzed through a decision-making process, while the remaining 12 received suitability modeling. The resulting map reveals extensive areas with high wind farm potential. "Very high," "high," and "moderate" suitability zones cover a combined 211,943 ha, compared to a mere 1459 ha with "low" and "very low" potential. Interestingly, "sands" emerged as the surface with the highest concentration of "very high" suitability, while "fallow land" offered the most extensive suitable area overall. Wind power density proved to be the driving force behind these rankings. The study recommends further research to understand how wind power density correlates with wind speed at different altitudes. This could refine wind farm placement and maximize its effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Salih, Abdelrahim & Hassaballa, Abdalhaleem A. & Eltawil, Mohamed A., 2024. "Integrating spatial data and multi-criteria analysis for wind farm suitability mapping in eastern Saudi Arabia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:301:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224013963
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.131623
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224013963
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.131623?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Seyed Mohammad Seyed Alavi & Akbar Maleki & Ali Khaleghi, 2022. "Optimal site selection for wind power plant using multi-criteria decision-making methods: A case study in eastern Iran [Selection of optimal location and design of a stand-alone photovoltaic scheme," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 17, pages 1319-1337.
    2. Höfer, Tim & Sunak, Yasin & Siddique, Hafiz & Madlener, Reinhard, 2016. "Wind farm siting using a spatial Analytic Hierarchy Process approach: A case study of the Städteregion Aachen," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 222-243.
    3. Ullah, Zia & Elkadeem, M.R. & Kotb, Kotb M. & Taha, Ibrahim B.M. & Wang, Shaorong, 2021. "Multi-criteria decision-making model for optimal planning of on/off grid hybrid solar, wind, hydro, biomass clean electricity supply," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 885-910.
    4. Gao, Jianwei & Wang, Yaping & Guo, Fengjia & Chen, Jiayi, 2024. "A two-stage decision framework for GIS-based site selection of wind-photovoltaic-hybrid energy storage project using LSGDM method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    5. Ehsan Noorollahi & Dawud Fadai & Mohsen Akbarpour Shirazi & Seyed Hassan Ghodsipour, 2016. "Land Suitability Analysis for Solar Farms Exploitation Using GIS and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP)—A Case Study of Iran," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-24, August.
    6. Raza, Muhammad Ali & Yousif, Muhammad & Hassan, Muhammad & Numan, Muhammad & Abbas Kazmi, Syed Ali, 2023. "Site suitability for solar and wind energy in developing countries using combination of GIS- AHP; a case study of Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 180-191.
    7. Pilar Díaz-Cuevas, 2018. "GIS-Based Methodology for Evaluating the Wind-Energy Potential of Territories: A Case Study from Andalusia (Spain)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Baseer, M.A. & Rehman, S. & Meyer, J.P. & Alam, Md. Mahbub, 2017. "GIS-based site suitability analysis for wind farm development in Saudi Arabia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1166-1176.
    9. Xu, Ye & Li, Ye & Zheng, Lijun & Cui, Liang & Li, Sha & Li, Wei & Cai, Yanpeng, 2020. "Site selection of wind farms using GIS and multi-criteria decision making method in Wafangdian, China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hakim Laid Mouloud Benhacene & Asaad Mubarak Hussien, 2025. "The Impact of Adopting Renewable Energy Resources on Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative View," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dehghan, Hassan & Pourfayaz, Fathollah & Shahsavari, Ardavan, 2022. "Multicriteria decision and Geographic Information System-based locational analysis and techno-economic assessment of a hybrid energy system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 189-199.
    2. Yildiz, S.S., 2024. "Spatial multi-criteria decision making approach for wind farm site selection: A case study in Balıkesir, Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    3. Elkadeem, Mohamed R. & Younes, Ali & Mazzeo, Domenico & Jurasz, Jakub & Elia Campana, Pietro & Sharshir, Swellam W. & Alaam, Mohamed A., 2022. "Geospatial-assisted multi-criterion analysis of solar and wind power geographical-technical-economic potential assessment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    4. Dinçer, A.Ersin & Demir, A. & Yılmaz, K., 2023. "Enhancing wind turbine site selection through a novel wake penalty criterion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    5. Nagababu, Garlapati & Puppala, Harish & Pritam, Kocherlakota & Kantipudi, MVV Prasad, 2022. "Two-stage GIS-MCDM based algorithm to identify plausible regions at micro level to install wind farms: A case study of India," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    6. Sofia Spyridonidou & Georgia Sismani & Eva Loukogeorgaki & Dimitra G. Vagiona & Hagit Ulanovsky & Daniel Madar, 2021. "Sustainable Spatial Energy Planning of Large-Scale Wind and PV Farms in Israel: A Collaborative and Participatory Planning Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, January.
    7. Saraswat, S.K. & Digalwar, Abhijeet K. & Yadav, S.S. & Kumar, Gaurav, 2021. "MCDM and GIS based modelling technique for assessment of solar and wind farm locations in India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 865-884.
    8. Styliani Karamountzou & Dimitra G. Vagiona, 2023. "Suitability and Sustainability Assessment of Existing Onshore Wind Farms in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, January.
    9. Sofia Spyridonidou & Dimitra G. Vagiona, 2020. "Systematic Review of Site-Selection Processes in Onshore and Offshore Wind Energy Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-26, November.
    10. Alami Merrouni, Ahmed & Elwali Elalaoui, Fakhreddine & Mezrhab, Ahmed & Mezrhab, Abdelhamid & Ghennioui, Abdellatif, 2018. "Large scale PV sites selection by combining GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process. Case study: Eastern Morocco," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 863-873.
    11. Shao, Meng & Zhao, Yuanxu & Sun, Jinwei & Han, Zhixin & Shao, Zhuxiao, 2023. "A decision framework for tidal current power plant site selection based on GIS-MCDM: A case study in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    12. Elkadeem, M.R. & Younes, Ali & Sharshir, Swellam W. & Campana, Pietro Elia & Wang, Shaorong, 2021. "Sustainable siting and design optimization of hybrid renewable energy system: A geospatial multi-criteria analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    13. Md Rabiul Islam & Md Rakibul Islam & Hosen M. Imran, 2022. "Assessing Wind Farm Site Suitability in Bangladesh: A GIS-AHP Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    14. Pojadas, Dave J. & Abundo, Michael Lochinvar S., 2022. "A spatial cost-benefit-externality modelling framework for siting of variable renewable energy farms: A case in Bohol, Philippines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1177-1187.
    15. Meysam Asadi & Kazem Pourhossein & Younes Noorollahi & Mousa Marzband & Gregorio Iglesias, 2023. "A New Decision Framework for Hybrid Solar and Wind Power Plant Site Selection Using Linear Regression Modeling Based on GIS-AHP," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-24, May.
    16. Eichhorn, Marcus & Masurowski, Frank & Becker, Raik & Thrän, Daniela, 2019. "Wind energy expansion scenarios – A spatial sustainability assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 367-375.
    17. Jesús A. Prieto-Amparán & Alfredo Pinedo-Alvarez & Carlos R. Morales-Nieto & María C. Valles-Aragón & Alan Álvarez-Holguín & Federico Villarreal-Guerrero, 2021. "A Regional GIS-Assisted Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Site-Suitability for the Development of Solar Farms," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-19, February.
    18. Kumbuso Joshua Nyoni & Anesu Maronga & Paul Gerard Tuohy & Agabu Shane, 2021. "Hydro–Connected Floating PV Renewable Energy System and Onshore Wind Potential in Zambia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-42, August.
    19. Sekeroglu, Ahmet, 2024. "Site selection for biomass-solar hybrid renewable energy facilities: Spatial modelling based on fuzzy logic-geographic information systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PB).
    20. Asadi, Meysam & Ramezanzade, Mohsen & Pourhossein, Kazem, 2023. "A global evaluation model applied to wind power plant site selection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:301:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224013963. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.