Evaluating site suitability for ground-mounted PV-pumped storage systems via G1–entropy weighting and GIS

Abstract

Site selection for ground-mounted photovoltaic–pumped storage systems (GMPV-PSS), a key early step, is of vital importance for energy transition. Previous studies have evaluated site suitability from a single perspective, lacking evaluation based on an overall perspective on GMPV-PSS. This study introduces a novel framework for identifying optimal sites for GMPV-PSS. Through a literature review and the Delphi method, an evaluation indicator system was constructed, the subjective weights and objective weights of the indicators were respectively determined using the G1 order–relation analysis method and the entropy-weight method, and the indicators’ comprehensive weights were generated. Furthermore, weighted overlay and visualization analyses were conducted using geographic information systems. An empirical study identified that the most suitable sites for GMPV-PSS in China are Xinjiang, the northwestern part of Gansu Province, and certain regions in the west of Qinghai Province. Most areas of Inner Mongolia and the northern part of Shanxi Province, as well as the northern marginal zone of Tibet, also have relatively high site suitability. The developed assessment method provides a novel perspective on site-suitability assessment for GMPV-PSS and the empirical findings offer valuable insights for formulating effective infrastructure planning strategies.