Optimal Site Selection for Wind and Solar Parks in Karpathos Island Using a GIS-MCDM Model

This research paper examines how to assess potential locations for wind turbines and photovoltaic modules by combining Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). These potential locations depend on the current legislation, where many areas are buffer zones due to limitations. The study area is Karpathos, which faces energy and water scarcity. The need to increase the penetration rate of renewable energy sources (RES) by 2030 can help this island to fulfill both its energy and water needs through RES. To apply the weighted linear combination technique, this approach considers all eligibility criteria according to the legislation. After classifying them into four zones, the MCDM results in a suitability map that displays the spatial distribution of the final score, ranging from sites that are not appropriate to areas that are highly suitable. In the photovoltaic module scenario, the buffer zone corresponds to 61% of the island, while in the wind turbine scenario, this number increases to 85%, highlighting the difficulty of finding suitable sites. A sensitivity analysis is performed to determine the impact of the criteria on the suitability of a site for both scenarios.