Integrated Spatial Optimization Model for Re-newable Energy Planning

Renewable Energy is becoming more and more fundamental for the supply of the increasing global energy demand but, it poses some issues concerning the identification of the buildable land, the estimate of its exploitable potential, the integration into the power grid and the setting of efficient energy policies. Addressing these aspects requires interdisciplinary planning that can be integrated in GIS. Nevertheless, the lack of dedicated functions in GIS software in the field of wind and solar energy is a critical aspect when it comes to estimating the economic and technical potential energy production and to quantifying the uncertainties necessary to carry out sensitivity analysis. The aim of this research is the development of a GIS process that optimizes and assesses the technical and economic integration of solar and wind power plants in respect to the energy production and to the impact on the power grid.