Open Access

ARTICLE

Identifying Suitable Sites for CSP Plants Using AHP, Fuzzy AHP, and Full Consistency Method: A Case Study of CHAD

Bernard Bayangbe^1,*, Ababacar Thiam^1,2, El hadji I. Cissé², Kory Faye¹

1 Efficiency and Energetic Systems Research Group, Physics Department, Alioune Diop University, Bambey, BP 30, Senegal
2 Water, Energy, Environment and Industrial Processes Laboratory, Polytechnic School, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, BP 5085, Senegal

* Corresponding Author: Bernard Bayangbe. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Solar and Thermal Energy Systems)

Energy Engineering 2025, 122(3), 943-969. https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2025.060273

Received 28 October 2024; Accepted 20 January 2025; Issue published 07 March 2025

Abstract

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is one of the most promising solar technologies for sustainable power generation in countries with high solar potential, like Chad. Identifying suitable sites is of great importance for deploying solar power plants. This work focuses on the identification of potential sites for the installation of solar power plants in Chad as well as a comparative analysis using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), and Full Consistency Method (FUCOM). The results show that 35% of the Chadian territory, i.e., an area of 449,400 km², is compatible with the implementation of Concentrating Solar Power. The North, North, East, Southeast, and East zones are the most suitable. The main criteria for influence are direct normal irradiation, the soil slope, and the water resource. FUCOM gave a weight of 41.9% for Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) compared to 32.71% and 31.81% for AHP and FAHP. This method can be applied to other renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaics, wind power, and biomass. Combining its different analyses will be a valuable tool for planning any renewable energy project in Chad. This work should also facilitate the techno-economic analysis of future CSP plants in Chad.

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Keywords

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