Dynamic web-based GIS tool for pre-feasibility evaluation of renewable energy projects

Abstract

The high energy consumption and the large amount of emissions associated with roads life cycle makes it necessary for the administrations involved to invest in the implementation of renewable energy technologies on adjacent lands so that the net balance between CO2 emitted and CO2 saved is zero, thus helping to decarbonize the transport networks. To facilitate the first step in the long process leading up to the construction of wind and solar farms, a user-friendly tool is here presented that allows an early-stage evaluation of renewable energy projects. The ENROAD web-based GIS tool, through a functional, modern, intuitive, and ergonomic graphical user interface aimed at non-specialized users, optimizes the use of photovoltaic and wind technologies based on shading and wake losses, respectively, taking into account the solar radiation and wind conditions of the location and the geometry of the area selected by the user. In addition, the tool provides a thorough financial analysis, incorporating the effects of user-defined long-term interest rates, inflation rates, loan costs and efficiency losses on the Levelized Cost of Energy as well as traditional financial metrics, enabling users to conduct insightful if-then simulations. While this tool cannot have the precision of the in-depth study needed for the design of complex renewable energy facilities, it can facilitate the decision making by the administrations. Finally, a case study and a validation section have been included to demonstrate the technical and financial evaluation provided by ENROAD and ensure that the results provided are reasonable and accurate enough.