Evaluation of renewable energy sources in peripheral areas and renewable energy-based rural development

The context and background of this study are based on the growing role of policy-driven renewable energy sources in improving energy security, protecting the climate, and encouraging economic development. In many cases, these high expectations are undermined by the lack of an integrated methodology for the measurement of renewable energy potential. Therefore, we assumed as the main hypothesis, the possibility of developing a complex and integrated evaluation methodology for renewable energy potential. Accordingly, we employed evaluation methods based on mapping techniques, simulation software for wind farms, and the analytical tools offered by the Geographical Information System. The main novelty of this study is related to the integration of three renewable energy sources (biomass, solar, and wind) and the respective measurement of their total renewable energy potential.