Assessment of Solar Power Plants in Different Climates of Iran Using the TOPSIS Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Method

The escalating global energy demand underscores the critical need for a transition to sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, present a vital alternative to fossil fuels, mitigating adverse effects like greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and pollution. Iran, situated within the global desert belt, possesses immense potential for solar energy exploitation. This study introduces a novel, integrated framework for assessing and implementing solar power plants by combining Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis, PVSOL simulation, and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. This methodology is applied to a critical and energy-intensive public infrastructure: hospitals across Iran's four distinct climatic zones (temperate, cold, hot/dry, and hot/humid). The primary novelty of this research lies in its holistic approach , which moves from macro-level spatial potential assessment using GIS to micro-level technical design in PVSOL, culminating in a robust comparative ranking via TOPSIS. Site selection was optimized using GIS tools, while detailed system design and energy yield simulation were conducted in PVSOL. The TOPSIS method was then employed to evaluate and rank the designed systems based on key criteria: electricity production, installed capacity, and performance ratio. The findings demonstrate the viability and impact of solar integration in healthcare facilities. The installations across the four hospitals yield a combined capacity of 2200 kW, generating approximately 4.67 GWh of electricity annually and reducing CO₂ emissions by over 2.16 million kg. A key insight from the TOPSIS ranking—contrary to what solar radiation levels alone might suggest—is that the hospital in Ardabil (cold climate) achieved the highest overall ranking due to its superior performance ratio (89%), despite a 38% solar share. Hospitals in Hormozgan, Yazd, and Mazandaran followed with solar shares of 47%, 43%, and 29%, respectively. This study underscores the critical importance of moving beyond simple solar potential maps to a integrated techno-economic-environmental evaluation for effective strategic planning. The proposed framework provides a replicable model for deploying solar energy in public infrastructure globally, significantly enhancing energy sustainability, strengthening healthcare resilience, and fostering a healthier, more secure society.