Wind farm sites selection using a machine learning approach and geographical information systems in Türkiye

This research highlights the importance of integrating machine learning algorithms with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) applications in the field of renewable energy by finding a suitable site for wind farms due to their importance in preserving the environment to achieve efficiency and cost-effectiveness and reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel energy sources. Using GIS various factors affecting wind energy localization were processed and analyzed including natural, socio-economic and environmental criteria. Ensemble learning of four supervised machine learning algorithms (Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbor, Support Vector Machines, Naive Bayes) was used to classify suitable and unsuitable data representing geo-referenced points on the ground with three criteria for each site (wind speed, elevation and slope). The results of the algorithms varied in terms of accuracy and variance, then the results were collected, and the intersection between them was found so that the location classification would be agreed upon in the results of the algorithms used. The aim of using this technique is to reduce the error, increase the accuracy and avoid the bias or variance present in individual models. Accuracy of the algorithms result was respectively (K-Nearest Neighbor, Random Forest, Support Vector Machines, Naive Bayes) (93.022%, 93.018%, 95.095%, 89.553%). The final result is a map using GIS showing the suitable and unsuitable sites of wind farms in the study area (Türkiye) has been chosen as a study area in the research due to several factors that make it suitable for wind energy projects, including its geographical location, which gives it great climatic and terrain diversity, as it is surrounded by seas (Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea), which leads to the activity of seasonal and continuous winds, which contributes to the activity of seasonal and permanent winds. Its drive to develop investment in renewable energy due to economic and population growth has increased the demand for energy and consequently the development of renewable and sustainable energy sources. This research contributes to supporting the global transition to sustainable energy by providing a new methodology for integrating multiple technologies to support a sustainable energy future.