GEODETIC SUPPORT FOR THE PLACEMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL PLANNING SYSTEM

The rapid development of renewable energy is intensifying competition for land resources, opportunities for grid connection, and public support for the implementation of new projects. Under these conditions, the selection of locations for solar and wind power plants becomes not only an engineering or energy-related task but, above all, an issue of rational spatial development of territories. This study proposes an approach to the preliminary selection of areas for the placement of renewable energy facilities based on the integration of geodetic methods and geoinformation technologies into the territorial planning system. The methodology involves the use of GNSS measurements, photogrammetry from unmanned aerial vehicles, digital terrain models, cadastral data, information on land-use restrictions, transport and energy infrastructure, as well as indicators of solar radiation and wind potential of the territory. All spatial data are converted into a unified format and integrated through multi-criteria analysis to create a suitability index for land parcels intended for the placement of energy facilities. Using the example of a hypothetical planning area, it is demonstrated that the use of modern geodetic materials significantly improves the accuracy of identifying the boundaries of suitable sites, reduces conflicts with agricultural production and protected natural areas, and enables a justified comparison of alternative options before the commencement of detailed design. The obtained results indicate that the energy potential of a territory is only one of the factors determining the feasibility of project implementation. Equally important are the terrain characteristics, accessibility of transport infrastructure, the possibility of connection to the power grid, the configuration of land parcels, and the presence of environmental protection restrictions. The proposed approach can be used by local authorities, design organizations, and investors to align the development of renewable energy with strategies for sustainable land use and contemporary requirements of spatial planning.