Integrating GIS for Climate-resilient Assessment of Optimal Locations for PV Solar Power Plants in Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess suitable locations for photovoltaic solar power plants using GIS in Kajiado County, with a special emphasis on climate resilience. The main objective of this study is to employ GIS for evaluating optimal sites for the installation of photovoltaic solar power plants in Kajiado County. The specific objectives included evaluating climate-resilient factors for solar power plant viability, identifying data collection constraints for climate-adaptive PV solar plants, and conducting climate-informed GIS analysis for solar PV system installation. The primary datasets were: slope, land use land cover, distance from roads and type of soil that were collected using a mobile mapper to validate the secondary data used in this study. The secondary datasets used were: solar irradiance extracted from World Bank, type of soil sourced from Kenya Soil and Terrain database, land use land cover from National Management Authority, Slope data from USGS and distance from roads data from Kenya Roads Board. The methodology involved a systematic approach, beginning with the identification of suitable areas through the analysis of key factors such as solar radiation, slope, distance from roads, land use, and soil type. Subsequently, a crucial step involves the determination of corresponding weights for these factors, ensuring a comprehensive consideration of their relative importance in the decision-making process. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to determine the corresponding weight of each criterion. The maps were classified into three classes of suitability as, more suitable, moderately suitable and less suitable. The results of this study showed 22% of the area of study to be more suitable, 47% being less suitable and 31% moderately suitable for PV solar plants installation and a map showing the suitability category was created. In conclusion, the utilization of GIS technology for renewable energy assessment has proven to be a potent methodology, offering a robust approach to pinpointing ideal locations for PV solar power plants. This study, aligned with its main objective of using GIS in assessing optimal sites for solar power installations in Kajiado County, underscores the effectiveness of GIS integration for identifying and evaluating suitable areas for solar energy infrastructure. The results of this study can serve as a valuable resource for future planning and decision-making processes in the renewable energy sector, not only in Kajiado County but also in other regions with similar characteristics. Based on the findings, the study recommends the development and implementation of policies supporting the growth of solar energy in Kajiado County, including incentives, streamlined permitting processes, and regulations promoting xiii sustainable development. Public education initiatives are also suggested to create awareness of renewable energy sources, particularly in remote areas, fostering sustainable practices and reducing dependence on fossil fuels