Bacinal, Paulo B.,

Suitability mapping of solar energy potential using GIS inselected areas in the 3rd district of Camarines Sur, Philippines / Paulo B. Bacinal [and 4 others]. - 83 leaves.

Undergraduate Theses (BSECE) - Electronics Engineering.

Includes bibliographical references.

Countries have begun to use fossil fuels less often and have shifted to renewable energy sources in order to reduce environmental damage and boost energy security. Solar energy, an attainable renewable energy source, has enormous potential to supply the growing need for power. As a result, careful site selection is required for the installation of solar PV systems. This paper uses GIS to create a solar suitability map to identify potential sites for solar PV systems in District 3 of Camarines Sur, specifically in the eight (8) locations in District 3 with one (1) city and seven (7) municipalities, namely Naga, Pill, Ocampo, Magarao, Bombon, Camaligan, Canaman, and Calabanga. Annual average solar radiation datasets and meteorological data, including air temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, and geographical variables, were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The conditions for the nine criteria for selecting a suitable location were established. Suitability mapping was carried out using ArcGIS software to build various layers of maps, in conjunction with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the weights of ranking criteria. The solar suitability map was then displayed in Google Earth Pro as a satellite picture. Based on many parameters, the study identified ideal places for solar PV installation. The data indicated that acceptable spots are found in 166 barangays within the designated region, with 21 areas being unstable. The third district, which has the most land area, Pili, Ocampo, Magarao, Bombon, and Camaligan, are the most suitable locations for large-scale solar PV installation. The researchers recommended further development of this study for more accurate and reliable results.