Geospatial Analysis of Suitable Locations for Exploatation of Small Hydropower and Solar Energy Potentials: A Case Study of Prespa Lake Region in Macedonia

Abstract

Thе renewable energy is very important segment of human life in modern world, which provides energy for electricity generation, that is
collected from renewable resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such assunlight, wind, rain and others. The renewable
energy potentials, that are easily accessible in rural areas are mostly unused. Renewable energy has less negative impacts on environment than
fossil fuels. Site selection is a crucially important step for utilizing large investments like small hydropower plants, solar farms and others.
Multi-criteria evaluation methods are commonly used for site selection.There is a huge water potentials of the small river watercourses in Macedoniaonia. The harnessing of the sun as an inexhaustible source of energy mostly depends of the duration of the intensity of the solar radiation, which in Republic of Macedonia is around 3,8 kWh/m2 and it is about 30% greater than the average value in many European countries.The goal of this paper is, to describe some GIS-based contemporary methodological approaches of geospatial analysis of some key topographic surface parameters for assessment and evaluation of optimal locations for construction of small hydro power plants and solar power plants.The focus of analysis is set to some of the most important topographic land surface parameters such as: slope (gradient of surface), aspect of slope, as well as the other land surface parameters that have impact and are most important for optimal decision making concerning the site suitability for renewable energy expoatation .Main accent at the analysis is set at the rural areas. The methodology approach is developed on a few case study areas in the south-west part of Republic of Macedonia ( in the north part of the Prespa like region). As input digital data have been used few digitized maps in scale 1:25000 with many vector data layers(grid pint map, map with contour lines and others).
The methodology and analysis is performed on a study area which encompasses a part of the Prespa lake region for small hydropower and solar
farms. Throughout the researches it is showed, that the DEM (Digital Elevation Model) is one of primary driving force for analyzing of physical
processes of surface resources. In the paper is proposed a methodology for assessment of hydropower potential of small streams as one of the
oldest renewable energy resources as well as the energy potential of solar power plants.The obtained results of performed analyses show, that the analyzed areas have considerable potential for use of renewable energy resources of small streams and solar potentials. The proposed GIS based spatial analysis of suitable sites can be modifyed and efficiently applied to any other spatial location.