ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the suitability analysis for siting a solar farm in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The primary objective is to identify suitable sites for a solar farm within Egor L.G.A. The analysis involves creating multi-parametric maps incorporating data on elevation, slope, solar radiation, relative humidity, proximity to roads and buildings, land use/land cover, and temperature. An integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) analytic technique was used to accomplish this. The use of key datasets included temperature, solar radiation, cloud-free high-resolution satellite pictures, and SRTM DEM data. At a scale of 1:100,000, suitability maps, like those for solar radiation, were produced using a Minna datum coordinate system. The project found solar radiation and elevation, with weighted sums of 5.802 and 3.204 respectively, to be the most significant factors contributing to siting a solar farm in Egor. Results indicated that Evbuotu, located within the study site in Egor, is a suitable location for a solar photovoltaic (PV) farm, promising a constant supply of electricity for the local population. In conclusion, this project demonstrate that GIS can be an invaluable tool for identifying optimal locations for solar farms in Egor Local Government Area. It is therefore recommended that the issue of recurrent power failure can be resolved if this alternative clean energy offered by this project is explored by relevant stakeholders and government of Edo State.
