Assessment of Solar Energy Potential Using GIS in Taraba State for Off-Grid Electrification Planning

Expanding electricity access to unserved rural communities in North East Nigeria requires spatial analysis to identify the most viable renewable energy options, of which solar photovoltaic systems represent the most scalable solution given the region's high insolation levels. This study assesses solar energy potential across Taraba State using GIS-based spatial analysis of NASA POWER solar radiation datasets, cloud cover frequency from MODIS Terra imagery, slope and aspect derived from SRTM DEMs, and proximity to existing transmission infrastructure. Criteria are weighted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process and integrated through weighted overlay analysis in ArcGIS to produce a composite solar energy suitability map classified into five zones. Population distribution data from the National Population Commission and grid connectivity maps from the Transmission Company of Nigeria are incorporated to identify unelectrified communities in high solar potential zones as priority targets for off-grid solar deployment. Results indicate that over 65 percent of Taraba's rural communities fall in high or very high solar potential zones, with the Karim Lamido, Lau, and Zing LGAs exhibiting the highest combined solar potential and grid distance. The study provides investment prioritisation data for the Rural Electrification Agency's Energising Economies Initiative and the Taraba State Rural Electrification Board. Keywords: solar energy, GIS, off-grid electrification, Taraba State, renewable energy.