A geospatial multi-criteria analysis for wind turbines and photovoltaic modules optimal siting on the island of Kos

The need to increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES) by 2030 raises the issue of determining the optimal sites for various RES units. Especially for wind turbines (WTs), there is a relevant legislative framework that requires the evaluation of distances from buffer zones. Using a combined model of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) in the present study, the results identify the optimal sites for both WTs and photovoltaic modules (PVs) on the island of Kos. Criteria are selected, their weights are estimated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), buffer zones are extracted and the final results are classified into three zones, based on the legislation criteria, as well as, on the altitudes and on the maximum wind or solar potential. According to the results, Zone C, for the WT scenario, occupies 6 km2, while the same area for the PV scenario is 13 km2.