Site selection for the utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar farm is a critical issue due to its direct impact on the power performance, economic, environmental, social aspects, and existing as well as future infrastructures. In this chapter, we conduct a literature review on site selection of solar PV power plants. More than 50 papers are studied to identify the site suitability methodologies, decision criteria, and restriction factors, use of Multicriteria decision-making tec. Site selection for the utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar farm is a critical issue due to its direct impact on the power performance, economic, environmental, social aspects, and existing as well as future infrastructures. In this chapter, we conduct a literature review on site selection of solar PV power plants. More than 50 papers are studied to identify the site suitability methodologies, decision criteria, and restriction factors, use of Multicriteria decision-making techniques, Geographical information system (GIS), and dealing with uncertainty in installing utility-size solar PV.The results of our study show that analytical hierarchy process and its extensions are the most common methodology, followed by overlay tool analysis in GIS environment. Solar PV site suitability studies considered solar irradiation amount as the most important criteria followed by the proximity to power lines and land slope, whereas the protected lands and watercourses considered the highest restriction factors described in the literature that should be taken into account when facilitating site selection for utility-scale solar PV projects. More than 80% of studies are addressing grid-connected solar PV where China leads the site suitability studies followed by Spain and India. As per authors' knowledge, this is an original contribution to review site suitability methodologies, decision criteria, and restriction factors for the solar PV.Geographical information systemGrid-connected photovoltaic systemMulticriteria decision-makingRenewable energySite selectionSolar energySystem planningChapter OutlineThe first author would like to thank The Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu—Jubail Industrial College for the financial support under the scholarship program.Compared to other renewable energy sources (RES), solar energy is a low-density power supply that necessitates vast areas for exploitation. Also, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has enormous potential for deployment where the amount of global solar radiation per year is very high. However, one of the barriers to solar power development is the inconsistency and variability of solar irradiation which can be geographically dissimilar from one site to another. Selecting a suitable site is a crucial step toward developing a feasible utility-scale solar PV project. Though, the utility-scale PV considered as large-scale PV projects which can generate at least 5 MW,.Throughout solar energy research, a common question exists: What is the optimal site for utility-size solar PV? Performing a comprehensive solar site analysis is the first step toward ensuring a cost-effective and well-performing solar project. In general, the process must consider decision criteria as well as restriction factors that need to be assessed owing to their positive or negative impacts on the performance and cost of the electricity generated. Moreover, knowing the potential sites is a strategic primarily milestone for annual power plant output prediction as well as financial viability.The geographical information system (GIS) is a powerful tool for consulting, a. To deploy a solar project on a utility-scale, several criteria and factors should be considered with the aim of optimizing the location which will result in more efficient system, more economic to supply the needed customers and less impact on the environment. Typically, the decision criteria are derived based on the study aim, accessibility to the geo-referenced database and the existing literature. The review results in 39 subcriteria assessed mostly under location and climate criteria. Most solar site suitability studies deliberate solar irradiation as the most important decision criteria, as shown in Table 2.2.Table 2.2. Associated Criteria for Selected Solar Photovoltaic Site Suitability StudiesSolar irradiation is an essential criterion for large-scale PV solar power projects. Considerable amounts of solar energy play a significant role in producing more electrical power from available resources. Fig. 2.2 shows the top 10 criteria considered in the criteria for selected solar PV site suitability studies.Furthermore, proximity to power lines and substations prompts adequate accessibility to the grid and aids to avoid the high cost of establishing new lines as well as minimizing power loss in the transmission. Under the orography crit.
