Using MCDA approach in the GIS for Locating the Best Solar Energy Sites: A Case Study in the Great Nile Bend Region, Northern State, Sudan

Abstract

This study presents a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to identify suitable locations for solar energy development in the Great Nile Bend region, Northern State, Sudan. Given the region’s high solar potential and the need for sustainable energy planning, a spatial suitability framework was developed by integrating key environmental, topographic, and land use criteria. Relevant spatial datasets were processed and standardized, and criterion weights were assigned according to their relative importance. A weighted overlay analysis was used to produce a solar energy suitability map classifying the study area into five suitability classes. The final suitability results were converted into vector format to support detailed spatial analysis, and the highest suitability zones were extracted as optimal areas for potential solar energy deployment. The results show clear spatial variation in solar energy potential and are consistent with previous GIS-based studies in arid and semi-arid regions, confirming the reliability of the methodology. Overall, the study highlights the Great Nile Bend region as a promising solar energy hotspot in Sudan and demonstrates the applicability of the proposed GIS-based framework as a decision support tool for sustainable regional energy planning.