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Published:
Jan 16, 2024Keywords:
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Multicriteria decision method for renewable energy production: siting solar, wind and small hydropower plants in Zimbabwe
Abstract
Energy development in Zimbabwe has not been coincident with the rising demand for energy, thus placing a large strain on existing resources. The National Renewable Energy Policy states that by 2030, Zimbabwe should to some extent be driven by clean and sustainable energy sources. In support of this initiative, this study sought to identify suitable locations for renewable energy production plants (solar, wind and small hydropower) in Zimbabwe. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to evaluate the decision criteria. A raster-based suitability model was constructed using the decision criteria, and areas showing suitable sites to install wind, solar and small hydropower (SHP) plants were identified. The results showed that suitable sites for small-scale wind turbines are in the Beitbridge rural district covering a land area of approximately 12 719 km2. Hwange rural was found to be the district with a large potential for siting solar power plants with a land area of approximately 26 974 km2. Several river channels distributed throughout the country were identified as potential sites for establishing SHP plants. The main contributions of this paper are the identification of the evaluation criteria and suitable sites for wind, solar and SHP plants in Zimbabwe.
