GIS-based suitability analysis for Solar Homestead Sites (Case Study: Sheikh Zayed Area, 6th Of October City in Egypt )

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra, Benha University

Abstract

The climate change problem refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) increasing heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the Earth’s atmosphere. The world is shifting towards renewable energy resources to mitigate environmental problems Renewable energy sources are preferable as they are usually free, and widely available with limited or no environmental impacts. Egypt is renowned for being among the best places in the world to produce solar energy.
This study aims to provide a GIS-based model for multi-criteria suitability analysis to identify optimum sites for constructing large-scale solar farms in the Sheikh Zayed area, 6th Of October City in Egypt, where solar radiation from different Digital Elevation Models (DEM) sources was calculated and compared to each other. Data obtained from Solar-Med-Atlas using Heliosat Method. The results identified 47 sites in Sheikh Zayed and neighboring areas as suitable for solar energy utilization.

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