Solar desalination plant site suitability through composing decision-making systems and fuzzy logic in Iran (using the desert areas approach)

Freshwater resources represent around 3% of all water on Earth, and less than 1% of that is available. Consideringcurrent conditions, as well as future predictions of need, freshwater resources cannot meet human needs. Thus,sweetening of the brackish water can be performed to provide freshwater for human use. Solar energy, because ofIran's climatic conditions, may be used for sweetening the brackish water. The objective of this study was to surveythe lands using groundwater resources for the installation of solar desalinations. According to the goal, criteria andindicators were identified by the analyses of previous studies’ data, Delphi method and the internal structure ofmeasurements and indicators determined using the DEMATEL technique. Then, indicators were weighted using theanalytic network process (ANP) method, and indicators’ suitable membership functions were defined using fuzzylogic. Indicators have been combined by the means of minimum function. Eventually, the areas were classified intofour classes. The results showed that among 250 scope studies, 20 scopes have been put in class one, and these arelocated in five provinces. The results also indicated that among the provinces of Iran, Yazd is located in an area withthe highest percentage of class one, and is ranked first. Comparisons of the obtained results with the climaticconditions of Iran confirmed the results.