Identification of appropriate locations for the establishment of solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants using Station-based and ERA5 datasets in the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye

Energy demand is a crucial aspect of human society, and efforts have been made to meet this increasing demand through various energy production methods. However, the extensive use of fossil fuels for energy generation has led to environmental degradation and pollution issues such as global warming, climate change, and air pollution. In response to these challenges, renewable energy sources have recently gained prominence, with solar energy playing a key role in this transition. This study focuses on developing a solar PV power plant through site selection using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method integrated with a geographical information system (GIS). The objectives include identifying the optimal site for the power plant, evaluating meteorological datasets (Station-based and ERA-5 datasets), and conducting statistical analyses on those data sets. The study area is located in the southern part of Türkiye, which includes three watersheds in the Mediterranean Region. This research utilized a range of meteorological and topographical data, with GIS operations such as Euclidean Distance analysis, reclassification of raster data, weight assignment, and overlay analysis being performed. Expert Choice software was employed to determine the final weights based on questionnaire results. Statistical comparisons indicated a high correlation among the datasets, with anomalies observed in humidity and solar irradiation values during specific months. The study found a consistent pattern in identifying suitable locations for solar plants, with minor variations in classification areas. Most areas and regions were classified as "Moderately Suitable" in both applications.