GIS Land Suitability Analysis · Romania

Identifying Romania's
Optimal Sites for
Renewable Energy

Romania is classified within European solar irradiation Zone B (1,200–1,600 kWh/m²/year) and holds a technical wind potential of approximately 84 GW onshore. This multi-criteria GIS analysis translates raw resource data into spatially precise land suitability maps — integrating grid infrastructure, terrain, land cover, and environmental constraints to identify the most viable sites for solar and wind development.

☀️ Solar Suitability 💨 Wind Suitability
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Methodology Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) + AHP
Analysis Levels Theoretical · Technical · Economic Potential
Primary Data Sources WB Solar Atlas · Global Wind Atlas · Copernicus LMS · National Datasets
Spatial Resolution GRID (25m) & APIA parcel level
Tools ArcGIS Pro · QGIS · Python · Mapbox
Coordinate System EPSG:3844 Pulkovo 1942(58) / Stereo70

Land Suitability Analysis
for Solar Power Systems

Approximately 31% of Romania's territory achieves very high photovoltaic output (PVOUT > 3.6 kWh/kWp/day), with the highest potential concentrated in Dobrogea, the southern Muntenia lowlands, and Oltenia. The analysis scores land at 25 m resolution across seven weighted MCE criteria — from PVOUT and grid proximity to land-use exclusions — producing a continuous suitability surface. Hard exclusions cover forests, water bodies, protected areas, flood zones, and built-up perimeters. Romania's estimated technical solar potential stands at 19.4 GW (25.8 TWh), of which 18.1 GW is considered economically viable.

Solar Suitability Legend

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19.4 GW
Technical solar potential (25.8 TWh)
31%
Territory with PVOUT > 3.6 kWh/kWp/day
3.07
National seasonality index (moderate)
0.10 €/kWh
LCOE in best southern zones

MCE Criteria & Weights

Parameter Top Score Threshold Weight
Solar potential (PVOUT)> 1,300 kWh/kWp30%
Grid proximity< 0.5 km to line15%
Seasonality indexLow variability10%
Connection capacity> 1,500 MW10%
Road proximity< 500 m10%
TopographyLow relief energy10%
Land use / coverUnproductive / arable10%

Suitability Classes · Score 10–100

Very High · score 80–100
High · score 70–80
Medium-High · score 60–70
Medium · score 50–60
Low · score < 50

High Suitability Counties

High: Constanța, Dolj, Giurgiu, Teleorman
Medium: Brăila, Galați, Arad, Călărași
Low: Brașov, Harghita, Suceava, Maramureș

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Land Suitability Analysis
for Wind Power Systems

Romania's top 10% windiest sites achieve a mean power density of 377 W/m² at 100 m height — placing them among the best onshore wind resources in Europe, with capacity factors of 35–45% for modern turbines. The Dobrogea region and the eastern Moldova corridor (Galați, Iași, Vaslui) emerge as the two dominant high-suitability zones. The analysis integrates wind speed, power density, grid capacity, and a strict exclusion framework including 500 m residential buffers, 1 km airport buffers, and all Natura 2000 areas.

Wind Suitability Legend

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84 GW
Technical onshore wind potential (154 TWh)
377 W/m²
Mean power density — top 10% sites at 100 m
~7.5 m/s
Mean wind speed in prime locations at 100 m
35–45%
Capacity factors in top-tier resource areas

MCE Criteria & Weights

Parameter Top Score Threshold Weight
Wind speed at 100 mHigh class (~7.5 m/s)35%
Wind power density 100 m≥ 377 W/m²15%
Connection capacity> 1,500 MW10%
Grid proximity< 500 m to line10%
Proximity to wind farms< 2 km10%
Road proximity< 500 m10%
TopographyLow relief energy10%

Suitability Classes · Score 10–100

Very High · score 80–100
High · score 70–80
Medium-High · score 60–70
Medium · score 50–60
Low · score < 50

High Suitability Counties

High: Constanța, Tulcea, Galați, Brăila, Iași, Vaslui, Timiș, Arad
Medium: Buzău, Vrancea, Neamț, Dolj, Mehedinți
Low: Brașov, Sibiu, Cluj, Maramureș

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