Energy for the future: Planning and mapping renewable energy. The case of Algeria

An open-access software and open geospatial data are used to assess, map and undertake a preliminary examination of Algeria's potential for setting individual or combined wind and photovoltaic solar farms. In order to carry out the analysis, a locational model has been built and implemented. Results indicated that 97% of the Algerian territory is found unsuitable for the location of wind and PV power plants. However, although most restrictive criteria have been applied, there are still numerous areas with high potential in Algeria (25,377 km(2) have potential for wind plants, 13,485 km(2) for the construction of solar plants, and 11,199 km(2) for both). These areas should be subject to more detailed studies in the future. The elasticity and iterative nature of the designed model allows to generate potentiality maps for various scenarios, pointing out areas where an extension of the electric grid would greatly increase the potential of the Algerian territory for the construction of RE plants.