GIS-Based Site Suitability Analysis for Solar Energy Installations in Plateau State

Nigeria's persistent electricity supply deficit and its commitment to expanding renewable energy generation create significant opportunities for solar energy deployment, particularly in states like Plateau State in the North Central geopolitical zone where highland topography and reliable solar radiation present favourable conditions for photovoltaic installations. This study applies a GIS-based multi-criteria site suitability analysis to identify optimal locations for utility-scale solar energy installations across Plateau State. Seven suitability criteria were selected based on technical, environmental, and socioeconomic considerations: global horizontal irradiance derived from PVGIS solar atlas data, land slope from SRTM digital elevation models, land use and land cover classification from Sentinel-2 imagery, proximity to existing electricity transmission infrastructure, distance from protected areas and water bodies, population density, and accessibility via road network. Criteria were standardised using fuzzy membership functions and weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process, with weights validated through expert consultations with energy engineers and geographers. Results identify approximately 18 percent of Plateau State's land area as highly suitable for solar installation, with the highest suitability zones concentrated on relatively flat plateau surfaces in Shendam, Wase, and Langtang North LGAs where irradiance is highest and land use conflicts minimal. Areas of high agricultural productivity and ecological sensitivity were systematically excluded from the suitable zone delineation. The study recommends integration of the suitability map into Plateau State's Rural Electrification Agency planning database and outlines a phased investment strategy for solar microgrid deployment in the most suitable rural LGAs. Keywords: solar energy, site suitability, GIS, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria.