Optimal site selection for combined renewable energy installations in Lebanon

Abstract

In our modern time, energy has enhanced the quality of life as well as economic development. The energy consumed is mostly from fossils fuels that are limited in nature and have drastic impacts on the environment. In search for a cleaner and a more sustainable energy resource, while maintaining similar human and economic development, renewable energy resources have become the alternative. At times, however, the deployment of such renewable energy technologies could be a challenging decision for many developing countries; renewable energy projects can either be a success or a failure. Additionally, since each type of renewable energy resource has its advantages and disadvantages, the most appropriate resource among them must be selected in order to gain its optimal benefits. The purpose of this research is to present a methodology to identify and prioritize the potential renewable energy development site using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the context of Lebanon. A series of maps has been created to illustrate possible locations for renewable energy power plants. Convenient site selection criteria have been identified according to the resources, topography, environment, and economics, then weighed using AHP method. A map of resources was generated by overlaying available solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, and geothermal potential maps using the spatial analysis tool in a GIS environment. While geothermal and biomass results are just illustrative, results show highly, moderately, and least suitable sites to prioritize the decision of renewable energy development all over Lebanon, but the proposed methodology could be extended to different contexts for similar purposes. As a result, the total potential of annual generation was calculated in different areas based on available energy resources. A map of Lebanon has been generated as an open platform for students to advance their knowledge and extend their research, and for companies and government agencies t