Redefining marginal lands: An integrated GIS-MCDA and remote sensing approach to identify optimal solar photovoltaic sites within Kansas

Abstract

Rising energy demand in the United States, projected to increase by 15% between 2020 and 2050, has spurred a growing emphasis on adopting energy-efficient technologies and expanding renewable energy infrastructure. However, this heightened investment in renewable energy infrastructure potentially exacerbates the current competition for accessible land resources between agricultural-based food production and energy generation in rural areas. For instance, while technically and economically promising, utility-scale solar PV facilities face a substantial challenge due to their notable land demand of around 2.5 to 3.5 hectares per MWac of installed capacity. Prior research emphasized identifying suitable SPV installation sites, leaving a research gap in exploring the prospects of marginal land for micro-grid SPV facilities. In their report, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory asserts that Kansas and the Great Plains have great potential for rural SPV power generation, with Kansas ranking 3rd within the CONUS. Thus, this research concentrates on developing a framework to identify marginal lands that would be suitable for SPV deployment in Kansas. We leveraged the GIS and remote sensing techniques to process the soil biophysical properties and land cover data. We defined marginal land based on two broad criteria: (a) biophysical and environmental properties, such as slope, soil erosion, soil moisture content, soil temperature, and drought intensity; and (b) specific land uses, including Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands, abandoned mine lands, and unproductive rangelands and pasture lands. Our findings propose an avenue to harness marginal lands for sustainable energy production while safeguarding crucial agricultural resources within Kansas.