Systematic review synthesizes multidimensional site-selection criteria for solar farms, highlighting GIS-MCDM methods to enhance energy planning and grid stability.
The rapid expansion of solar photovoltaic energy requires efficient, multidimensional site-selection strategies to ensure long-term sustainability and investment efficiency. Selecting optimal locations for utility-scale solar PV farms is a critical part of energy system planning. However, existing reviews often focus on isolated dimensions, failing to provide a comprehensive synthesis of technical, economic, environmental, and social factors together. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic review integrating the SALSA framework with the PSALSAR methodology, screening 523 peer-reviewed publications, and synthesizing 103 high-impact studies from 2015 to 2025. The analysis identifies 11 key sub-factors across four pillars (technical, economic, environmental, and social) and introduces a three-phase decision logic (exclusionary screening, technical-economic optimization, and socio-climatic validation). Quantitative synthesis highlights a significant shift toward GIS-MCDM approaches and provides a frequency analysis of regional criteria. This integrated model provides a structured roadmap for developers and policymakers to align localized site selection with grid stability and national renewable energy targets.
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Kasradze et al. (2026) studied this question.
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