A GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis Approach on Wind Power Development: the Case Study of Nova Scotia, Canada

The growing need for reducing the negative impacts of climate change and ensuring a constant and environmentally friendly energy supply, led the way to the exploitation of renewable energy sources. Canada has already acknowledged this trend by incorporating more power from renewables on its energy mix. Similarly, Nova Scotia has started an ambitious energy program in which the substitution of most of the fossil fuels by wind energy, will play a significant factor. The purpose of this research is to investigate all suitable locations for wind energy development in the province of Nova Scotia, under the scope of minimizing environmental impacts, increasing social acceptance and maximizing energy production. This spatial analysis is performed through the combination of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and a Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The analysis of the province was based on the preferences of wind experts and administration authorities, which formed the weights assigned on eight (8) evaluation criteria. The extract of the relative weights was succeeded by using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), while their spatial dimensions were expressed by GIS software. The above procedure was possible through the application of a methodology where exclusion areas were found on the first place and the remaining areas were assessed on their level of suitability. The implementation of the GIS-MCDA methodological framework indicates that, despite the exclusion of a significant part of the province, there is still enough space to develop wind energy. The applied methodology and relevant results could be used as a Decision-Making tool by planning authorities, wind developers, and stakeholders