Location Selection forWind Turbines in Balıkesir, NW Turkey, Using GIS

Abstract

In comparison to traditional production of energy by using fossil fuels, the demand for renewable energy is increasing constantly due to the negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment, increased public awareness and the fact that fossil resources will be exhausted someday. As a renewable energy source, wind energy is an economically feasible, environmentally clean, popular and reliable way of energy production. This study determined twelve geographical factors, the effects and weights of these factors were determined by considering the relevant literature and field conditions, and various analyses were conducted on these factors with the help of geographical information systems (GIS). As a result of the analyses, the most suitable establishment locations for wind energy stations were determined for the province of Balıkesir. The resulting map was divided into four classes based on their suitability (somehow suitable, moderately suitable, suitable and highly suitable). The classes were distributed as highly suitable by 12%, suitable by 29%, moderately suitable by 36% and somehow suitable by 23%.