Strategic Siting of Photovoltaic Systems in Botswana
Abstract
Botswana is a landlocked country facing significant power supply challenges, characterized by frequent power interruptions and the need for load management strategies to stabilize the national grid. Coal-fired plants and imported energy from neighboring countries dominate electricity generation. The expansion of renewable energy (RE) generation through solar photovoltaic systems offers a promising pathway to diversify the energy mix. This study proposes a novel model for identifying strategic sites suitable for deploying large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems using geographical information system (GIS) based spatial analysis and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate and weight multiple spatial criteria. The research will help decision-makers develop informed RE policies and development frameworks together with providing support and guidance towards Botswana’s RE transition. The analysis integrates environmental, social, and economic factors when determining ideal locations for the PV systems. PV systems offer a low-cost, modular and rapid-deployment solution for Botswana’s energy expansion. The results of the study show the top 10 suitable sites for PV deployment in Botswana, demonstrating their potential to contribute significantly to the country’s RE targets. The final suitability map shows all the different sites.
Keywords
Photovoltaic, Strategic sites, Botswana, Site Suitability, Geographical information system (GIS), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Renewable energy