Sustainable solar energy potential using GIS-PVSOL: An integrated technical, economic, environmental and social analysis in Qazvin, Iran

Population growth and economic development have significantly increased global energy demand. Solar energy offers a pathway to sustainable development, but geographical challenges can hinder its efficiency. This research proposes a method to identify suitable sites for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Qazvin province, Iran, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques and multi-criteria decision-making approaches. Twenty factors across five criteria (environmental, physiographical, legal, technical, economical, and climatic) were analyzed to minimize costs and environmental impacts while maximizing power output. Key innovations include a comprehensive framework for assessing the geographic, technical, economic, environmental, and social potentials of the PV system. For the first time, power generation from PV technology was evaluated using PVSOL software integrated with GIS and Best-Worst Method (BWM). A 5 MW PV power plant was modeled for technical analysis, while social, economic, and environmental impacts were evaluated using structured questionnaires, economic models, and SimaPro software. Results show Qazvin has significant solar PV potential, with 5,855 km² (38.34%) classified as highly suitable. The internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) are 14% and $3,887,710, respectively, confirming the system's cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the life cycle assessment indicates that the assembly phase has the greatest environmental impact. The current research findings highlight the viability of large-scale PV deployment in Qazvin and provide valuable insights to inform future energy planning and policy decisions aimed at sustainable regional development.