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In 2020 the European Commission approved the GND (Green New Deal), a strategic plan aimed at the decarbonization of the EU by 2050. In this scenario, the diffusion of alternative renewable energy sources (RESs) play a key role, particularly electric energy production from wind and photovoltaic power plants. Regardless, the nonprogrammable nature of these power sources led recent studies to focus the interest on the power-to-gas solution (PtG), consisting of the electrolytic transformation of excesses of unused electric energy into hydrogen. The complexity of this technology requires the development of strategic optimization models aimed at finding the best locations for new PtG plants in specific territorial scenarios. This paper presents the development of a GIS-based optimization model that combines an operational research approach with territorial services based on geographic information system (GIS) data. The study is located in Sicily (Italy), considering the large renewable energy penetration in the larger Mediterranean island. The developed model allows us to find the best location for new PtG installations in the considered area by combining GIS automated processing with cost function resolution. The results of this work could be useful in the years to come in light of the rapid spread of hydrogen energy production in Italy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent diffusion of RES (Renewable Energy Sources), considering the electric energy produced by photovoltaic and wind plants, brought to light the problem of the unpredictable nature of wind and solar energy. P2G (Power to Gas) implementation seems to be the right solution, transforming curtailed energy in hydrogen. The choice of the settlement of P2G plants is linked to many factors like the distances between the gas grid and the settlement of RES plants, the transportation networks, the energy production, and population distribution. In light of this, the implementation of a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) into a Geographic Information System (GIS) processing represents a good strategy to achieve the goal in a specific territorial asset. In this work, this method has been applied to the case of study of Sicily (Italy). The paper shows in detail the geomatic semi-automated processing that allows to find the set of possible solutions and further to choose the best localization for new P2G plants, connected to a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and integrated with a WebGIS visualization for real-time analysis. This system is useful for the management, the development, and the study of hydrogen technologies, in order to link the electrical network and the gas network datasets with economical and infrastructural assets through GIS processing. In the future new factors will join in the process as policies on hydrogen take shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method is proposed to screen vast territories with the aim of individuating optimal locations for large-scale solar plants. • The proposed method is based on Pareto dominance and it is assumptions-free. • The whole Italian territory is screened by using five key indicators. • An analysis of economic viability is further conducted on the same territory. • Sicily and Sardinia are the Italian regions with the highest number of optimal and economic viable locations. Increasing the exploitation of renewable energy sources (RES) is a key element for reducing the detrimental consequences of greenhouse-gases emissions and for satisfying the growing demand for energy. Solar power plays a central role having the potential to completely satisfy the world energetic needs. Locating optimal sites for installing solar plants is therefore an important task deeply affecting the long term profitability of such plants. The present paper proposes a filtering method to select a subset of efficient locations in order to reduce the dimensionality of the original problem when a large territory is screened for locating optimal sites for large-scale solar plants. It is based on the idea of preference relations and Pareto dominance and, avoiding to operate an inter-comparison of different locations' attributes, it can be considered assumptions-free. Moreover, the paper applies such filtering method, together with an analysis of economic viability, to Italy, a country with relatively high potentials in terms of solar energy that currently lacks an optimal site selection analysis. Once applied, the filter reduces the original set of feasible locations by more than 99%. The resulting Pareto efficient locations, evaluated through five selected criteria, are concentrated in the southern part of Italy and, particularly, in the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where also the economic viable locations are mostly found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]