Geographic Information System and Machine Learning Approach for Solar Photovoltaic Site Selection: A Case Study in Pakistan

Punjab, the most populous province in Pakistan, is currently facing substantial electricity shortages that are adversely affecting both residential and industrial sectors. To address this issue, the Cholistan Desert presents a promising solution due to its high solar irradiance, making it an ideal location for solar energy production. This study aims to identify the most suitable area for solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in the Cholistan Desert using Geographic Information System (GIS) and machine learning techniques. The analysis included field survey data encompassing 14 conditioning factors such as geophysical, socio-economic, and resource conditions. Three machine learning models were utilized: Random Forest, XGBoost, and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). The Random Forest model demonstrated superior performance with an AUC of 0.92, and feature importance was measured through SHAP. The resulting suitability map indicates that Bahawalnagar in the eastern region and Bahawalpur in the central region have 10.50% and 11.06% of their areas classified as having a “high” and “very high” probability for solar PV installation, respectively. For stakeholders in the wind industry, these regions also present potential for wind farm feasibility due to favorable wind conditions and flat terrain. The methodology can be adapted to prioritize wind energy sites by incorporating factors such as land availability, wind direction, and other related factors. Co-locating solar and wind farms in these regions could optimize land use, enhance grid stability, and support Pakistan’s renewable energy targets. Future research integrating real-time solar and wind data could further refine site selection and support multi-source renewable energy planning, providing actionable insights for policymakers and investors.