Assessing solar energy potential and CO2 reduction through GIS-based spatial analysis for optimal site selection of photovoltaic systems in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia boasts a significant potential for solar power generation due to its abundant renewable energy resources. This study assesses the photovoltaic energy potential and identifies optimal locations for large-scale photovoltaic installations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive multi-step approach was employed using Sentinel-1, NASADEM, and COP30 DEM datasets. To identify the suitable site for PV systems the data preprocessing, solar radiation calculations, terrain analysis, and land cover classification are considered. Factors such as slope, aspect, viewshed, and solar radiation were analyzed to generate a suitability map for photovoltaic installation, utilizing the advanced spatial analysis capabilities of ArcGIS Pro and high-resolution Open Topography-derived DEM data. A combined suitability analysis, validated by random points and ground-truth data, yielded an overall accuracy of 85.5 % with a Kappa coefficient of 0.71, demonstrating substantial alignment with field observations. The findings highlight significant solar energy potential, particularly in the eastern and central areas of Jeddah, where approximately 1083.3 km² were deemed highly suitable for photovoltaic installations. The energy output estimates show that the highest daily energy production from the suitable areas is 57.4 g GWh/day, with an annual CO₂ emissions offset of 10,600,000 tons. These results underscore the importance of integrating thermal factors into site selection and align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, offering valuable insights for strategic solar energy development.