Evaluation of Wind Energy Potential by a Multi-Criteria Approach Based on Fuzzy AHP and GIS Tools. A Case Study of the Oran Region (Algeria)
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This research proposes an integrated methodological framework for assessing wind energy potential in the Oran region, Algeria, by combining the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This hybrid approach allowed for the integration and evaluation of technical-economic, environmental, and climatic criteria, while capturing uncertainty and subjectivity in the weighting. The ranking of factors revealed that wind resources are the most decisive (48%), followed by terrain slope (24%), proximity to the electrical grid (18%), and road accessibility (10%). The main constraints are the proximity of buildings (44%) and airport zones (31%). The mapping results, obtained at a height of 100 meters, show a differentiated spatial distribution, with highly favorable areas concentrated in the southwest and southeast of Oran. The comparison of aggregation methods highlights the impact of methodological caution: the highly favorable areas range from 11.60% (linear weighting) to only 6.23% (fuzzy AND operator, more restrictive). Ultimately, the study confirms the relevance of the integrated Fuzzy-AHP-GIS approach for sustainable spatial planning, identifying the southwest and southeast areas as priority sites for wind energy development. Future prospects emphasize refining the modeling and incorporating social acceptability.
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