Research Blog 08

Building a Weighted Site-Selection Model for Solar Plants

The core SunVayu method ranks Indian sites using resource, grid, land, climate, ecology, and access criteria.

SolarMarch 4, 202510 min readAuthor: Dyuttit
Executive summary:

A weighted model makes trade-offs visible. It does not replace professional due diligence, but it helps compare candidate sites transparently.

Main Analysis

The model combines public project facts about Rewa, Bhadla, Charanka, and Pavagada with illustrative SunVayu decision scores.

This post uses SunVayu's research method: start with a practical renewable-energy decision, identify the environmental and economic variables, compare trade-offs, then explain the recommendation without pretending the model is proprietary engineering due diligence.

For a student-led ESS portfolio, the important point is not only the final answer. The value is in showing how energy systems, land systems, climate risk, infrastructure, and stakeholders interact.

Visual Analytics

Irradiation weight25
Grid access weight20
Land cost weight15
Flood/ecology combined30
Road access weight10

Data Table

FactorEvidence / signalDecision meaning
RewaStrong grid planning and balanced risk8.30
BhadlaExcellent solar resource, dust/O&M exposure8.05
CharankaSolar park infrastructure and land checks7.70
PavagadaHuge scale, higher social sensitivity7.25

Key Insights

  • Renewable energy decisions should be scored as systems, not judged through one variable.
  • Public data is useful when the assumptions are labeled clearly and checked against environmental logic.
  • The strongest site is usually the one with the best balance of output, cost, risk, access, and responsibility.

ESS Connection

This connects to ESS ideas of systems thinking, environmental impact assessment, energy resources, sustainability, stakeholders, and risk management. It treats renewable energy as part of a wider environmental and economic system.

References

NASA Earth Observatory, Bhadla Solar Park; WRI India, Pavagada Solar Park working paper; Central Electricity Authority India, power system planning; IRENA Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2023.

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