DATA-DRIVEN OPTIMAL SITE SELECTION FOR SOLAR POWER PLANTS BASED ON SOLAR IRRADIANCE ANALYSIS

Solar power plants play a critical role in meeting global energy demands in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The efficiency and long-term sustainability of clean energy production largely depend on the optimal siting of these plants, making solar irradiation data a crucial factor for ensuring maximum energy yield. This study focuses on Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), one of the most significant and widely used indicators in the literature for identifying suitable solar power plant locations, by performing monthly analyses through remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Regions with higher irradiation levels were classified accordingly. Technical, environmental, and economic factors, which may vary across countries or regions, were intentionally excluded to highlight the primary influence of solar irradiance on site suitability. The study was conducted specifically for the Elmalı district in Antalya, Türkiye. Results show that 28% of the area is highly suitable for solar power plant installation, 33% is moderately suitable, and 39% is less suitable based on GHI. In absolute terms, 4,969 hectares are classified as "very high suitability" and 43,038 hectares as "high suitability," indicating areas with strong investment potential. This study provides a clear, data-driven assessment of irradiance-based suitability and is expected to support and guide strategic solar energy investment and planning decisions in the region.