The development of sustainable energy with the optimal site selection for solar power plants (Case Study: Mazandaran province)

End viability, environmental pollution and fluctuations in the price of fossil fuels is causing turning to alternative sources. The use of sustainable energy, especially solar energy can be the best option for energy supply. The first step is to develop the use of solar energy and then locate potential survey areas where other plants have the situation. Mazandaran province has the potential to exploit solar energy. In this study, the criteria of sunshine, slope, distance from populated areas, away from roads, away from power lines, land use and limitations layer criteria is intended to locate the plant. In this study, the criteria of sunshine, slope, distance from populated areas, away from roads, away from power lines, land use and limitations layer criteria is intended to locate the plant. In general, finding the right place is of great importance in every field so that the whole range of research has focused on.
This research is a cross-sectional study to examine the issue of the Geographic Information System (GIS) and analytical network process (ANP) has been used. ANP is a multi-criteria decision-making techniques in a series of compensatory models which was used and all interactions and relationships between levels of decision-making at the network structure were used.
But since less network analysis to determine the final priority options were used more sophisticated methods such as TOPSIS technique was applied. After taking the required layers and reclassification, possible locations in the study area was determined. In order to evaluate the result of the three main factors topsis population, proximity to transmission lines and closeness were evaluated and examined. The evaluation indicated that TOPSIS high compliance with the above three criteria are ideal options. Finally, it was found that about 4771/960 square kilometers of area of the province is the suitable area to construct solar power plants.