Land Suitability Analysis for PV Investments using Geographical Information Systems (GIS): Case of Vjosa Watershed

Abstract

The remaining wild watercourses in Europe are threatened by the hydropower plants (HP) as a consequence of the increasing energy demand. In developing countries like the Western Balkans, HP are considered the most comfortable energy investment that have been extensively implemented in the past. However, the social- ecological adverse consequences of these mega-projects are becoming clearer leading to calls for alternative solutions. Current literature shows that innovative technologies for renewable energy harvesting are useful alternatives especially in regions of high social-ecological sensitivity. This is a vital approach that safeguards the endangered pristine watersheds. As an example, Vjosa River is acknowledged among the few remaining unique wild rivers in Europe, and its conservation is highlighted as a priority by international scholars and community. In this context, the aim of this study is to investigate the areas suitable for photovoltaic (PV) investment as an alternative to hydropower projects in the Vjosa River basin in Albania. First, critical socio-ecological characteristics are assigned to specific buffers that define the restricted areas where PV projects must be prohibited. The results show that about 20% of the catchment area (782 km2) is available for PV projects. These areas are prioritized based on various criteria of social, geophysical, and environmental aspects. Solar radiation, altitude, slope, orientation, proximity to the transportation network and to the existing electricity grid are the criteria considered in the suitability analysis. The relative influence factor of each criterion is calculated using the Analytical Hierarchy Processing (AHP) pairwise comparison method. The results show that there are significant areas within the basin that are suitable for PV investment. This study can serve as a stimulus for future work investigating other low-impact renewables, including wind energy, as alternatives to hydropower installations, to minimize social-ecological impacts on the remaining wild rivers in Europe and beyond.