An article by Nijat Imamverdiev, researcher at the Department of Economic and Political Geography at the Institute of Geography, was published in the Russian impact journal “International Scientific Journal for Alternative Energy and Ecology”.

The article "Choosing the optimal place for installing a solar power plant on the example of the SPS of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic" notes that Nakhchivan was chosen as a research area due to the higher radiation level and more than 2500 hours of sunshine per year. It was stated that in the course of the study, an analytical hierarchical process (AHP) model based on multi-criteria decision-making methods was used to determine the optimal location of the SPS. At the first stage of the study, seven criteria were analyzed: total solar radiation on a horizontal surface, slope, land use, buffer distance from areas with solar potential to settlements, protected areas, highways and power lines. At the second stage, the level of accessibility and suitability of the territories was determined within the framework of the criteria determined on the basis of GIS.

As a result, it is estimated that 9.5% (510 km2) of Nakhchivan AR has a high level of suitability for the construction of solar power plants, 12% (645 km2) - an average level of suitability and 24% (1290 km2) have a low level of suitability. Due to the fact that 54.5% (2930 km2) of the region has an annual radiation level of less than 1350 kW / m2, and the area covers complex protected areas, settlements, agricultural areas and areas with weak infrastructure, these areas are considered unsuitable for the construction of solar power stations.