A GIS-Based MCDM Approach for Selecting Optimal Solar-Wind Locations In Southwestern Tunisia, Kebili Region

The development of large-scale wind power plants (WPPs) and solar photovoltaic plants (SPVPs) represents a substantial long-term investment. Therefore, it is vital to identify ideal locations before constructing such facilities, considering the various factors involved in the siting process. Hence, the objective of this paper is to identify the most suitable locations in the region of Kebili, southwestern Tunisia, for deploying large-scale WPPs and SPVPs. Towards this end, a combined approach of GIS-based MCDM is utilized to conduct the spatial analysis. The obtained results indicate that large areas within the Kebili region are very well-suited to constructing solar, wind, and hybrid systems. It has been found that areas of 198 km
²
, 805 km
²
, and 101 km
²
were entirely fit for installing onshore wind, solar PV, and hybrid systems, respectively. In terms of theoretical energy yield, such areas are predicted to provide 170138 GWh and 2431 GWh per annum for solar and wind, respectively. Accordingly, these findings would enable policymakers to take concrete actions to speed up solar and wind farm development in Tunisia, which is the key to achieving the country's 2030 energy targets.