Land Suitability for Solar Power in Kano State

Background

Nigeria faces the concurrent challenges of meeting growing energy demands while addressing global decarbonisation imperatives (Oyedepo, 2012). The transition to renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, represents a critical pathway for fulfilling Nigeria's commitments under the Paris Agreement and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Akuru et al., 2017; Elum & Momodu, 2017).

Similarly, Kano State, like any other region across Nigeria, possesses substantial solar energy potential that could significantly reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels while promoting environmental sustainability (Okoye et al., 2016). However, research indicates that solar development projects risk conflicting with existing land use priorities without strategic site selection methodologies and potentially disrupting sensitive ecological areas (Akbas et al., 2022).

This study addresses the critical need for evidence-based guidance in sustainable solar energy development through comprehensive land suitability analysis. By methodically integrating climate variables, terrain characteristics, infrastructure accessibility, and land use considerations into the decision-making framework, this study provides a scientifically grounded roadmap for responsible renewable energy planning that effectively balances environmental conservation, technical feasibility, and socio-economic development priorities (Ajayi et al., 2016; Ayodele et al., 2016; Ohunakin et al., 2014)

Methodology

A systematic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) approach to multi-criteria decision analysis to identify optimal locations for solar photovoltaic farm development within Kano State.

Data Acquisition

Collection of fundamental spatial datasets for comprehensive evaluation

Digital Elevation Model (DEM): 30m resolution from Open Topography to evaluate topographic variations
Solar Radiation Data: From Global Solar Atlas to assess solar energy potential
Land Cover Classification: ESA WorldCover data representing land use for 2023
Road Network: Vector data from GeoFabrik with road type classifications
Electrical Grid Network: Transmission and distribution points from HDX
Protected Areas: Conservation zones and wildlife reserves from World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)
Study Area Boundary: Administrative boundary of Kano State

Data Preprocessing

Preparation of spatial data for consistent analysis

All datasets were processed to ensure analytical consistency:

Projection to a common coordinate system (WGS 84 UTM Zone 31N) for accurate spatial calculations
Clipping to the study area boundary to focus computational resources
Quality verification to identify inconsistencies between datasets
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) processing for terrain analysis
Resolution standardization to ensure all raster datasets have comparable cell sizes

Spatial Analysis

GIS operations to derive suitability factors

Terrain Analysis

Slope Analysis: Classified into suitability categories (0-3%, 3-5%, 5-10%, >15%)
Aspect Analysis: Cardinal directions classified by solar exposure potential
Elevation: Categorized by maintenance and temperature considerations

Infrastructure Analysis

Road Proximity: Distance calculations to nearest road segments
Grid Proximity: Distance to transmission or distribution lines
Land Cover Classification: Categorization of land types by suitability
Protected Area Exclusion: Creation of exclusion masks

Each factor was reclassified into standardized suitability scores (1=Low to 5=High) based on established thresholds from scientific literature.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Weighted overlay to determine overall suitability

Criteria	Weight (%)	Importance
Solar Radiation	35.8%	Highest
Grid Proximity	16.3%	High
Road Proximity	15.9%	High
Aspect	13.7%	Medium
Slope	8.3%	Medium-Low
Elevation	5.1%	Low
Land Use/Cover	4.9%	Low

The final suitability index was classified into four categories: Highly Suitable (80-100%), Moderately Suitable (60-80%), Marginally Suitable (40-60%), and Unsuitable (<40%).

Results & Findings

Analysis of land suitability for solar power plant installation in Kano State based on multiple environmental, topographical, and infrastructural factors.

Kano State Solar Suitability Map

Suitability Classes

Highly Suitable (8.94%)

Moderately Suitable (40.98%)

Marginally Suitable (45.8%)

Unsuitable (4.27%)

This suitability map shows the spatial distribution of optimal locations for solar power development across Kano State based on the multi-criteria decision analysis. The western and northwestern regions (Bichi, Gwazo, Shanomo and Tsanaya Local Government) have the highest concentration of highly suitable areas (dark green), while unsuitable areas (red) are primarily concentrated around protected zones and areas with steeper terrain.

Land Suitability Distribution

Factor Influence on Suitability

Highly Suitable

8.95%

Areas with optimal conditions across all criteria, ideal for immediate solar farm development with minimal investments in infrastructure and site preparation.

Moderately Suitable

40.98%

Areas requiring modest compromises or investments, but still economically viable for solar farm development with appropriate planning.

Marginally Suitable

45.80%

Areas presenting significant challenges that would require substantial mitigation measures or investments to develop viably.

Unsuitable

4.27%

Areas with prohibitive conditions including protected lands, steep slopes, or inadequate infrastructure access. Not recommended for development.

Key Findings

The western and the northwestern part of Kano State show the highest concentration of highly suitable areas, primarily due to favorable solar radiation and proximity to existing infrastructure.
Solar radiation and grid proximity were the most influential factors in determining site suitability, together accounting for over 50% of the weighted criteria.
Approximately 49% of Kano State's land area is either highly or moderately suitable for solar power development, representing significant potential for renewable energy investment.
Protected areas and water body area were automatically excluded from consideration, ensuring environmental and social impacts are minimized.

Conclusions & Recommendations

Key insights and strategic recommendations for solar power development in Kano State based on our comprehensive land suitability analysis.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the significant potential for solar power development in Kano State, with approximately 49% of the land area identified as highly or moderately suitable for solar PV installations.

The northwestern and western regions has the most suitable areas for development, showing optimal conditions across multiple criteria including solar radiation, terrain characteristics, and infrastructure access.

The multi-criteria decision analysis framework proved effective in balancing technical, economic, and environmental considerations for comprehensive assessment of land suitability across the study area.

Integration of GIS and MCDA methodologies enables evidence-based decision-making that can significantly reduce the risk of project failures and optimize investment returns in renewable energy development.

Recommendations

Prioritize identified high-suitability zones for initial solar development projects to maximize return on investment and minimize development challenges.
Conduct detailed site-specific assessments within the identified highly suitable areas to validate findings and address localized factors not captured in the regional analysis.
Integrate this analysis with the regional energy development plan to ensure strategic alignment with broader energy transition goals and infrastructure development initiatives.
Engage with local communities in the identified suitable areas to ensure social acceptance and address potential concerns regarding land use changes.
Consider phased development approaches that begin with the highest suitability areas and gradually expand as infrastructure and market conditions evolve.
Update the analysis periodically as new data becomes available and as infrastructure development progresses across the region.

Further Research Opportunities

This study provides a foundation for future research to further refine solar energy planning in Kano State and other regions of Nigeria. We recommend the following areas for extended investigation:

Temporal Analysis

Incorporate seasonal variations in solar radiation and land use patterns

Economic Modeling

Detailed cost-benefit analysis for different scales of solar implementation

Policy Framework

Examine regulatory environments and incentive structures for renewable energy

View Final Map Contact

References

Scientific publications and resources cited in this study

Akuru, U. B., Onukwube, I. E., Okoro, O. I., & Obe, E. S. (2017). Towards 100% renewable energy in Nigeria. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 71, 943-953.

renewable energy nigeria energy transition
Ajayi, O. O., Ohijeagbon, O. D., Mercy, O., & Ameh, A. (2019). Potential and econometrics analysis of standalone RE facility for rural community utilization and embedded generation in North-West, Nigeria. Sustainable Cities and Society, 47, 101502.

rural electrification economic analysis north-west nigeria
Ayodele, T. R., Ogunjuyigbe, A. S. O., & Amusan, T. O. (2018). Wind power utilization assessment and economic analysis of wind farms in Nigeria: A case study of six selected sites. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 80, 1881-1897.

wind power economic analysis nigeria
Elum, Z. A., & Momodu, A. S. (2017). Climate change mitigation and renewable energy for sustainable development in Nigeria: A discourse approach. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 76, 72-80.

climate change renewable energy sustainable development
Njoku, H. O. (2020). Solar energy potentials and utilization in Nigeria. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, 26, 107-118.

solar energy nigeria energy potential
Ohunakin, O. S., Adaramola, M. S., Oyewola, O. M., & Fagbenle, R. O. (2021). Solar energy applications and development in Nigeria: Drivers and barriers. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 32, 294-301.

solar energy barriers development
Okoye, C. O., & Achakpa, P. M. (2021). Geographical patterns of photovoltaic solar energy resource potential for sustainable energy generation in Nigeria. Scientific African, 12, e00836.

photovoltaic resource potential geographic analysis
Oseni, M. O. (2022). Beyond electricity access: An assessment of rural electrification initiatives in Nigeria. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 161, 112308.

rural electrification nigeria initiatives
Oyedepo, S. O. (2018). Energy and sustainable development in Nigeria: the way forward. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 2, 15-25.

energy sustainable development nigeria
Terfa, B. K., Chen, N., Liu, D., Zhang, X., & Niyogi, D. (2019). Spatial suitability analysis for energy crop cultivation: A multi-criteria decision-making approach. Energy, 174, 216-224.

spatial analysis suitability mcda

This list includes key publications that were used for the methodology and findings of this study.

For a complete bibliography, please download the full research paper.

Land Suitability Study for Solar Power Plant in Kano State