New clever method finds the best location for solar and wind farms

“I have developed an efficient method which can be used in selecting the best alternative from a million, or an infinite number, of alternatives,” says Goran Milutinovic, researcher at the University Gävle.

When using data from geographic information systems, where every point on the map is a potential alternative, the new method becomes really useful.

Goran Milutinovic

“By using automation in a process of comparison of two alternatives at a time, I have developed a method which can be used to decide on the best alternative among a million, or an infinite number, of alternatives,” Goran Milutinovic says.

He points out that there are a number of different methods in use today, but most of them are highly complex and demand experts. Goran Milutinovic’s method also makes it easier to visualize the decision-making process. The fact that methods fail to visualize the process is a common problem today; most methods only produce a result and reveal little about the process.

Sun, wind and water

For example, when deciding on the best location for a solar farm somewhere in Gävleborg, every area of 50 x 50 metres in Gävleborg is a potential alternative. A similar example is when the best location for a wind farm is to be selected. In both cases, other aspects must be taken into consideration like, for example, prevailing sun and wind conditions, distance to electricity grids etcetera.

Yet another example in which the location is essential is when constructing dams in a river, because the water flow rate per minute varies in different parts of the river and parts where the land is flat are unsuitable.

“In all cases, my method can be used to find the optimal location. I hope that my method will be used when finding a location for solar farms, wind farms or dams, instead of the most common methods currently in use which don’t quite work,” Goran Milutinovic concludes.

Goran Milutinovic defended his doctoral dissertation "Computational and Visual Tools for Geospatial Multi-Criteria Decision-Making " on 21 April, 2020 at the University of Gävle.

Contact:
Goran Milutinovic, PhD in geospatial information information science at the University of Gävle 
Phone: 072-465 12 25
E-post: Goran.Milutinovic@hig.se

Text: Douglas Öhrbom
Photo Goran Milutinovic: Private