The Evaluative Study of Ecological Suitability of Wind Power Development Planning

THE EVALUATIVE STUDY OF ECOLOGICAL SUITABILITY OF WIND POWER DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

Zhidong Li a, b, Fan Zhang c, Guobao Song a, *

aKey Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Linggong Road 2, 116024 Dalian, People’s Republic of China bLiaoning Academy of Environmental Science, Shuangyuan Road 30-1, Shenyang 116023, People’s Republic of China cLiaoning Academy for Environmental Planning Co., Ltd, Shuangyuan Road 30-2, Shenyang 116023, People’s Republic of China

ABSTRACT of environmental protection, and national authorities to support wind power project in the

policy, wind power in China has been rapid Wind farms construction projects influence development. of natural resources mainly appears as the Liaoning Province Beizhen city is one of occupation of land resources which will make the the areas with abundant wind energy functions and structure of land to change. resources(GONG Qiang, et al., 2009), where the Meanwhile, local ecological environment will wind speed, wind direction stability, and in most also be broken. This paper introduces the related of the flat, open, suitable for large-scale concept and research development of development and installation of wind turbine. To ecological-suitability and GIS. Then, the take advantage of local wind energy resources, procedures of the evaluation are set up, drive the region and regional economic combining the qualitative research with the development, Beizhen city planning and quantitative one. The factor weighted-stack construction of the people's government of 100 method is employed as the rationale, and GIS as MW wind farm. Regional development and the technical platform. Accordingly, evaluation construction of wind farms will inevitably index system is built, evaluation criteria destroy vegetation, construction activities can determined and the method and process of cause surface rolling, the development and ecological-suitability analysis of wind power construction activities will cause certain development planning area are made. Finally, the influence to the ecological environment in the wind power development planning for Liaoning study area (Ilhami Kiziroglu and Ali Province Beizhen city has been illustrated as the Erdogan,2015). Beizhen city is located in the example. To sum up, this dissertation confirms western liaoning region, the regional vegetation that the ecological-suitability analysis of wind coverage rate is low, the ecosystem is fragile, power development planning area relying on GIS through wind power planning area of ecological brings much convenience to ecological plan, and suitability and related policy analysis, reasonable at the same time, improves the reasonability, use of GIS technology defined area of suitable accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency, which is of development areas, provides the scientific basis great importance to reasonable specific planning. for the later period of wind power development and ecological protection to wind power development in the region will produce important KEYWORDS: influence(Wang Kunping,2015; Pan Yan-qiu and wind power development planning; GIS; overlay Li Lu,2011). analysis; the ecological-suitability analysis

STUDY AREA AND METHODS INTRODUCTION A Survey of Wind power planning area. Wind energy is a clean, renewable energy. Through micro and macro location survey and Wind power do not need to consume mineral filter, Beizhen city will plan newly increased two energy, do not pollute the environment, the wind farm development area within its construction period is short and flexible, jurisdiction, is located in the Dashi town and meanwhile, it has also a good social and Zhengan Town. The evaluation is 24.1~321m economic benefits. With the enhanced awareness altitude hills. Due to planning area mostly is a

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hilly terrain, more gentle topography, top of the spatial data collection, processing, storage, mountain ridge, the wind speed is larger, more analysis and performance, so the spatial data suitable for wind turbine configuration. Planning source, data acquisition method, generating a total installed capacity of 100MW, planning process, quality directly affect the potential of area of 127.63km2. geographic information system application, cost Planning area location as shown in figure 1. and efficiency. Research data of Landsat 8 and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) are from the U.S. Geological Survey. The evaluation factor and evaluation standards are choosed after analyzing the terrain, elevation, slope, slope aspect, vegetation and buffer. In order to determine the weights of evaluation factor, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is applied to comprehensively evaluate the ecological suitability analysis of construction land grading in wind power development planning.

Single factor classification and evaluation. FIGURE 1 The last steps of each ecological evaluation The geographical location of planning factors of the original information will be unified, area map. graded and quantification. According to the needs of spatial analysis, to determine the required evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria is The analysis method of Ecological divided into three grades，which respectively are Suitability for Wind Power Development most sensitive, sensitive and low sensitive. Then Planning. This study uses the weighted overlay the thematic layer is established for each single analyses of a GIS-based tool as a theoretical basis factor in the different attribute. Each quantitative and the possible applications in solving the single factor will be shown by an attributive layer. problem of ecological sensitivity analysis of wind According to the factor classification standard to power planning. It is necessary to overlay with make the analysis map of a single factor, the multi-layers for solving sensitivity analysis. After specific drawing process is as follows: spatial the overlapping layers, each independent properties of each factor defined by the vector influence factor can be corresponding to a layer. graphics software such as AutoCAD, then import When we are using GIS-based tool as analyzing the GIS application software such as ARC/INFO and evaluating for ecological sensitivity, we need software. Next, the classification score results at to solve two problems: one is how different the previous pass will do data entry, and establish factors into independent layers, the two is how to a factor analysis of the regional spatial data (Ai overlay in each layer (Tang Guoan and Yang Ting, Qiao, 2007). 2006). Weight Determination. Weight is used to Methods. Weighted overlay analysis is a measure the relative importance of the single most popular method for ecological sensitivity factor, the greater the weight, the greater the analysis. Its basic principle is based on the impact of the factor on the sensitivity of the overlay method, which is by multiplying the factor. The determination of weight in the single factor evaluation value and its weight ecological sensitivity analysis is a key step, value, accumulative sum again. Weighted overlay which is often influenced by the subjective analysis is better suited to computer technology, factors of the decision makers, but to minimize and the same as the principle of overlay of GIS the error caused by human factors, and it is able technology (Hakan Mete Dogan et al.,2005), so to reflect the true relative relationship between the weighted superposition method and GIS can the standards. be a good fit. In the process of the superposition of factors, the weight is need to be standardized, so that The data source. The geographic summation of all the weight value is 1. When information system is around the spatial The there is a factor of N, all the weight is expressed geographic information system is around the as W1 ， W2 ， W3 ， … ， Wn ， ΣWn=1(Zhang Jun-hua,2004).

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RESULTS

Ecological Suitability GIS-based. Data Processing Analysis. Vegetation Analysis. This paper cut out wind power planning area from Landsat8-TM full band image as the research object, the imaging time is May 13, 2015. Day the weather was clear and cloudless, image quality better, land type has the obvious difference. Using ERDAS IMAGINE and ARC/INFO software to draw the vegetation in the study area map, the result is as shown in figure 2.

Elevation Analysis. Elevation analysis is divided into several groups according to the FIGURE 3 number of the contour lines by a certain distance, The evaluation analysis map. using different symbols or colors to distinguish, to show the elevation changes, the maximum height and the minimum height. The elevation analysis can help the planner to find out the best development zone in the planning area, and direct the wind power planning. In ArcGIS10. 2, elevation analysis is achieved by using the Counters command, the result is as shown in Figure 3. By Figure 3 we can see the whole planning area is divided into 10 levels, the highest elevation of 321m, and the minimum elevation 24m.

FIGURE 4 The slope analysis map.

Slope Analysis. The slope of a certain point on the ground indicates the extent of the tilt at that point. Slope analysis is the expression and understanding of a particular means of terrain structure. Because different land use types need to be built on the basis of different terrain, so we should consider the slope of the region in the development of wind power. In this paper, we use DEM data to extract FIGURE 2 the slope, the results are shown in Figure 4. The vegetation analysis map. Figure 4 is divided into six grades according to the different color, color is red local slope is greater, display color from the point of view, planning area smaller slope, mostly in less than 10 degrees.

Slope Aspect analysis. The slope aspect is defined as the angle between horizontal

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projection of normal and north direction. In has a relationship with the distance, so for the ArCG1S10.3, in the output of the slope to the buffer analysis, the result is shown in figure 6 data, the slope aspect value is defined as: north and figure 7. direction is 0º, east of 90º, and so on. Different slope aspect, its acceptance of solar radiation and sunshine duration are not the same, the temperature difference is also great. The sunlight in southern slope is clearly better than northern slope, the average temperature is high. Different slope accepts have an important impact on the building's location, and most people like the sunny environment and more exposure to the sun. And due to different light requirements of plants, vegetation north and south slope has a corresponding difference, which will have a guiding significance for planning.

FIGURE 6 The residential areas buffer map.

FIGURE 5 The slope aspect analysis map.

The slope aspect is similar to the slope, which can be extracted directly from the DEM data of the ArcGIS10.2, and the results are shown FIGURE 7 in Figure 5. The slope aspect is been divided into The road buffer map. eight different directions with different color ,East (67.5º ~ 112.5º), southeast (112.5º ~

157.5º), south (157.5º ~ 202.5º), southwest to The ecological suitability analysis in the (202.5º ~ 247.5º), west (247.5º ~ 292.5º), application of wind power development northwest (292.5º ~ 337.5º), north (0º ~ 22.5º and planning. Selection of Ecological Factors. This 337.5º ~ 360º), north (22.5º ~ 67.5º). By figure, paper mainly analyzes the man-made negative the east is priority to south in planning area. effect of natural environment in the development

of wind power, maintains the original biological Buffer Analysis. Buffer analysis is based on population, structure and function, improves the a certain type of graphic elements (point, line, recovery ability of the natural environment, and surface) to develop a certain width. Buffer improve the stability and load bearing capacity of analysis has many practical applications in the ecological system or natural environment. planning. The terrain factor, vegetation factor and the In this study, the impact of residential area resident factor have influence on it. The selection and road on the suitability of construction land of the factors is as follows:

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Terrain factor: the terrain is a larger frame Evaluation of Single Factor. The raw data and background in regional ecological of each evaluation factor is hierarchical and environment and landscape quality, the terrain quantitative, the basic data is input into computer has an important impact. This study selected system, and the data information can be elevation, slope, slope aspect to evaluate, the identified by ArCG1S10.3. Each single factor for slope is the greater, soil and water conservation one layer, which will be single factor sensitivity requirements are the higher, and the slope of the classification and cartography. Using Delphi plant growth can have a greater impact, generally method to determine the value of the single factor the growth of shrubs or trees when the slope is sensitivity evaluation, grade 3, 5, 3, 1 on behalf greater than 25°, the grass is difficult to grow of the ecological sensitivity level and for grading when the slope is greater than 45°. Elevation is more factor, using 4, 2 as median (see Table 1). an important factor in the ecological environment, Each single factor evaluation diagram is shown the air temperature decreases with increasing in figure 2~7. altitude, causing the distribution of plants showing a significant characteristic vertical Determination of Weight. According to the stratification, entire ecosystems are also showing importance of analysis factors in the sensitivity, a significant vertical distribution as the the weight value of each factor is calculated by temperature decreased, ecological diversity of using the paired comparison method. Comparison decreased, ecological system also become fragile. of six single factors, such as elevation, slope, etc. The slope aspect to the microclimate is the According to the weight value calculating important part, south by east, is the most superior method of single factor weight value (see table can fully accept lighting and ventilation and 2). conducive to the growth of plants. After obtaining the weight of each factor, Vegetation factors: vegetation is the most but also testing whether the scientific and correct, important and sensitive natural factor in the because this is only the value of the two ecological environment. It is an important factor evaluation criteria, the evaluation criteria for the to protect the ecological gene pool and improve whole does not necessarily have such a value. At the environment. It plays a role in regulating the this time need to view the "integration" (C.I.) to microclimate, protecting the biodiversity and solve. Integration (C.I.) = (total score of maintaining the good ecological environment. In arithmetic mean-(item number) / (item number this study, the vegetation diversity index was -1). The average C.I. value is between "0-1" and used to evaluate. sometimes the "0.15"can be reached according to Resident factor: residential area is the the need (Wu Bin, 2009). If the calculation important protection object of the wind power results are reasonable and feasible in the interval, planning area. In this study, we used the analysis the calculation results are reasonable and of residential area buffer analysis as evaluation feasible. index. After calculating its integration degree (C.I.) The road buffer factor: the road is the wind = (the total score of the arithmetic average power planning area important objects of number of items) / (item number -1) = protection. In this study, we used the road buffer (6.3611+7.0272+5.9661+7.0421+6.7393+5. analysis as evaluation index.

TABLE 1 The factor grading of protection planning in wind farm planning area.

Ecological Level Factor 1 2 3 4 5 Evaluation ＜100m 100-150 150-200 250-300 ＞300m Slope ＜5° 5°~10° 10°~15° 15°~20° ＞25° Slope Aspect Flat, South Southeast, Southwest East, West Northeast, Northwest North Vegetation Other - Grassland - Woodland Buffer Residential Area ＞500m 500~400m 400~300m 300~200m ＜200m Buffer Road Area ＞200m 150~200m 100~150m 50~100m ＜50m

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TABLE 2 The weight analysis of single factor.

Buffer Buffer Slope Arithmetic-Geometric Factor Evaluation Slope Vegetation Residential Road Weight Aspect Mean Area Area

Evaluation 1 1/3 3 1/5 1/7 1/3 0.46 0.0503 Slope 3 1 5 1/5 1/7 1 0.87 0.0948 Slope Aspect 1/3 1/5 1 1/7 1/9 1/3 0.27 0.0290 Vegetation 5 3 7 1 1/3 5 2.37 0.2582 Buffer Residential 7 5 9 3 1 7 4.33 0.4730 Area Buffer Road 3 1 5 1/5 1/7 1 0.87 0.0948 Area Note: the weight value= individual geometric average/the geometric average

TABLE 3 The C.I. value calculation of limited model.

Slope Buffer Residential Buffer Road Factor Evaluation Slope Vegetation Aspect Area Area Evaluation 0.0503 0.1508 0.0168 0.2513 0.3518 0.1508 Slope 0.0316 0.0948 0.0190 0.4740 0.6635 0.0948 Slope Aspect 0.0871 0.1451 0.0290 0.2031 0.2612 0.0871 Vegetation 0.0516 0.0861 0.0369 0.2582 0.7746 0.0516 Buffer Residential 0.0676 0.0946 0.0526 0.1577 0.4730 0.0676 Area Buffer Road Area 0.0316 0.0948 0.0190 0.4740 0.6635 0.0948 Total 0.3197 0.6661 0.1731 1.8182 3.1877 0.5466 Score 6.3611 7.0272 5.9661 7.0421 6.7393 5.7667

7667) /6-6) / (6-1) =0.09675. Calculation result according to table 3 shows that the basic standard of content to less than 0.1, so the weight of the judgment result can be used.

Comprehensive Evaluation Sensitive Area division. Using the weighted superposition method of calculating formula: Multiply each single factor layer by its weight to get the result layer. This step can be directly used Acrgis10.3→ Analyst Tools Overlay→Spatial→WeightedSum. After the combination, get the ecological sensitivity assessment classification of the map, as shown in figure 8.

FIGURE 8 The grading map of eco-sensitivity analysis.

In the grading map, the red represents high small and the sparse vegetation area, area is sensitive area, must strengthen the protection, about 43.11 km2, percentage is about 33.78%, the yellow represents the sensitive area, green area is ordinary for ecological sensitivity and can represents low sensitive area. In the classification bear mild human disturbance, belonging to the map, the comprehensive evaluation of ecological wind power development of the restricted area. sensitivity values is expressed by SE, for a Low sensitive areas are mainly located in maximum of 4.65, minimum 1.0, the relative residential area not far, the slope is 1.0~1.8~2.66~4.65 is the comprehensive small and the sparse vegetation area, area is evaluation value grading standards, the grading about 43.11 km2, percentage is about 33.78%, the standard is divided into three kinds of sensitive area is ordinary for ecological sensitivity and can areas, namely low sensitive area 1.0 < SE is not bear mild human disturbance, belonging to the more than 1.80, sensitive area 1.8 < SE＜2.66 wind power development of the restricted area. and high sensitive area is 2.66 < SE < 4.65. The area of low sensitive area, which is located Specific statistics as shown in the table 4. in the area of the planning area, is far from the High sensitive area is mainly located in the residents, the slope is relatively slow and the planning area of the distribution of dense vegetation coverage is poor, the area is 58.89km2, vegetation, vegetation and steep slope area, area the total area is 46.14%. The area has a low is about 26.62 km2, percentage is about 20.08%, degree of ecological sensitivity and can withstand the area is high ecological sensitivity, once the a certain intensity of wind power development, destruction, not only to the region's residents but the development process should accelerate have a serious impact, but also to the entire the restoration of vegetation, reduce soil erosion regional ecosystem has brought serious damage, and environmental pollution, in order to protect is an important natural ecological protection zone, the environment and maintain the ecological is not suitable for wind power development and environment. construction. Sensitive areas are mainly located in the relative residential area not far, the slope is

TABLE 4 The classifying statistics of ecological sensitivity

Classification Area,km2, Scope Percentage,%, Low Sensitive Area 58.89 1.0-1.80 46.14 Sensitive Area 43.11 1.80-2.66 33.78 High Sensitive Area 25.62 2.66-4.65 20.08 Total 127.62 - 100

DISCUSSION of level 3, which will provide a scientific basis for ecological suitability analysis for the location of the (1) The ecological suitability analysis is the wind power project. core content of wind power development planning, (3) In this paper, we have not introduced the so far technology for suitability analysis of evaluation factor of wind energy resources, because examples and research is rarely in the wind power the evaluation area is lesser, wind energy resources project site selection, this paper uses GIS change is small, when wind power planning in large technology, the wind power development planning area, such as provincial wind power development of ecological suitability analysis method is studied. planning, the wind energy resource factors should (2) This paper selected the elevation, slope, be introduced as evaluation factors. slope aspect, vegetation diversity, buffer of roads (4) It is suggested that planning should also be and residential areas buffer as its ecological factors, taken into account in the development of a large which is conducted by using Acrgis10.2's single scale wind power development plan for the impact factor overlay to obtain the ecological sensitivity of the ecological sensitivity of birds and habitats, analysis. Planning will eventually be divided into natural conservation areas, basic farmland high sensitive area, sensitive and low sensitive area

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