Site Suitability Analysis for Solar and Wind Farms in The West Kootenay
Results and Discussion:

Figure 1

Figure 5

Figure 4
Figure 2

Table 1

Solar

Wind

Insolation

Suitable

% of Total
2
2
(W/m /day) Areas (km ) WKD area
121.0 - 140.9
3.67
0.01%
141.0 - 160.9
352.25
1.12%
161.0 - 180.9
50.54
0.16%
Total:
406.46
1.29%

Solar Panel Average GWh / Households
powered / year
Efficiency
year

Suitable
Wind speed
% of Total
2
(m/s)
Areas (km ) WKD area
4.0 - 4.9
232.00
0.74%
5.0 - 5.9
3.00
0.01%
Total:
235.00
0.75%
Grand Total:
641.46
2.04%

Turbines /

15.0%
15.0%
15.0%

2

km
1
1

1.10
121.30
19.71
142.11

102
11,231
1,825
13,158

Average GWh / Households
year
powered / year
233.72
6.41
240.13
382.24

21,640.44
593.73
22,234.18
35,392.19

Introduction:

Figure 3

Prepared by: Guilherme Molena
Coordinate System: BC_Albers_NAD83
Date: March 25, 2019
Course: IEP 271 GIS Applications II
Instructor: Tracey Harvey
Integrated Environmental Planning
Selkirk College

Fossil and carbon-based fuels have helped mankind develop its society and create a globalized
world. However, it is well known today that the use of these fuels has led our environment to
multiple crises, including climate change, air and water pollution and the threat of mass
extinction, not to mention what may happen to our society when oil reserves have been depleted.
For this reason, society and the economy must start phasing-out of fossil fuels and slowly begin
to adapt to new, sustainable and renewable sources of energy.
Many initiatives and projects around the world have embraced this goal and have begun a
transition already. In our region, the West Kootenay District (WKD), the West Kootenay
EcoSociety has started a petition to ensure that local municipalities commit to a transition to a
100% renewable energy source economy. This initiative poses many challenges, some of which
this project intends to address, specifically finding suitable sites within the WKD for the
implementation of renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines and solar panels.

Data Sources:
Selkirk College database, Wind Atlas, Government of Canada, iMapBC, IRENA
(International Renewable Energy Agency).

The results show that there is a great amount of land
in the WKD suitable for both wind and solar farms.
The figures for each individual energy source are
235km2 of land suitable for wind farms and 406.5
km2 for solar farms, totalizing 641.5 km2 or 2.04%
of WKD’s total area. Utilizing the best technologies
available, the combined power generation of all
areas range from 263.3 GWh/year to 501.2
GWh/year. Based on energy consumption of 900
kWh/month (9.0 x 10-4 GWh) per household, the
number of households that can benefit from
renewable energy range between 24,380 to 46,405
per year. The complete results can be seen in the
final map (Figure 4) and in detail on Figure 5 and
on Table 1
Comparing the efficiency between the two
technologies, results show that the use of wind
turbines is approximately 292% more efficient,
generating 1.02 MWh/km2/year while solar panels
only yield 0.35 MWh/km2/year.
Although the highest power output is ideal, it is not
possible to reach these numbers given the fact that
some suitable areas for wind farms are also suitable
areas for solar farms, even though it is possible to
have both technologies on the same site, it is not
possible to cover 100% of the same area with both
technologies. However, any renewable energy
source implemented will contribute to diminishing
CO2 emissions from non-renewable power
generating sources, which can help reduce the
effects of climate change. Another positive impact
is the promotion of the renewable energy industries,
which can facilitate the access of renewable energy
technology at a lower cost.

Methodology:
Limitations and Assumptions:
All maps and data analysis were performed using the Esri ArcGIS version 10.6.1 software
and the methods were as follows:
1. Data research regarding annual average wind speed (measured 80m off the ground for 43
years) and solar radiation (W/m2/day) in the WKD, environmental criteria for suitable
areas, such as maximum slope of 15% for wind farms and SW to SE facing slopes for
solar farms.
2. Establishing client’s criteria and applicable regulations, defined as: 30 meter buffer zone
from lakes and streams and within 10 kilometers of major highways; 5 kilometers away
of major municipalities to minimize noise problems and within 1 kilometer of major
transmission lines.
3. Researching best available wind turbines and solar panels technologies such as:
a) Wind turbine: Cut in wind speed (minimum wind speed): 4 m/s, Cut out wind speed
(maximum): 25 m/s. Hub height (tower): 65 to 78m, Minimum distance between
turbines: 500m (1 turbine/km2).
b) Solar Panels: Efficiency: 15%, no other applicable parameter was established.
4. Creating a raster layer of intercepted areas between suitable wind speeds and suitable
slope areas, transforming it into a polygon layer. (Figure 1)
5. Creating a polygon layer for the client’s criteria and applicable legislation. (Figure 2)
6. Creating a polygon layer of intercepted areas between layers from step 4 and 5.(Figure 3)
7. Creating a raster layer of intercepted areas between suitable areas for solar panels (SW to
SE facing slopes) and solar radiation, transforming it into a polygon layer.
8. Creating a polygon layer of intercepted areas between layers from step 6 and 7.

Reclassifying data and raster may be subject to
interpretation and not as accurate as original data.
Also, sun radiation and wind speed numbers, when
extrapolated in calculations of power generation
(e.g. calculating annual average power output),
might have a great discrepancy from reality due to
the accuracy of its measurements, technology used
to generate the power and the fact that figures from
environmental factors can vary drastically from
year to year. Other limitations to this study include
wind blocked and shadows cast by man-made
structures, costs of renewable technologies and
exact figures of energy consumption and
households existent in the WKD. Furthermore, due
to time availability and budget restrictions, this
project does not cover environmental impacts
caused by the implementation of these technologies
on each site versus the benefit they would bring.