GIS-based wind farm site selection in Lebanon

This paper includes an interactive wind farm design approach for Lebanon using geographic information systems (GIS). The procedure facilitates the process of locating a wind farm geographically, estimating its cost, and evaluating its generation capabilities. This paper uses Lebanon as a case study, and the procedure can be followed when similar necessary data are available for any other place. The procedure takes into consideration different design criteria such as wind data, urban areas, the type of turbines used, and the feasible distance between wind turbines. Moreover, GIS enhances wind data visualization and averaging. The procedure is implemented in ArcGISreg from ESRI and successfully locates the optimal site for wind farm based on the user preferences and the characteristics of the site under study. The results ensure noise pollution reduction, cost estimation, accurate farm area and location, and show the number of turbines that fit in this area. The paper also addresses privately owned wind farms ranging from household to commercial generation.