Developing a Rating Model for Selection Solar Wood Drying Location

Solar energy is one of the free and clean sources of energy supply without any destructive influence on the environment. Solar energy has been used in different forms for a long time. Concentrators of solar radiation can be used to produce unlimited, clean and free energy and save fossil fuels considerably. One of important applications of solar energy is to manufacture solar wood drying units. Iran has been located in an appropriate situation in the world with respect to receiving solar energy. The aim of the present paper is to propose a multicriteria methodological approach based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) useful for the “Determination of Effective Criteria on Site Selection for Solar Wood Drying Units in Iran”. The methodological approach is divided in 3 steps. In first step experts of kiln wood drying were interviewed for preliminary investigation. In the second step, hierarchy of criteria was designed and weighing values of them were calculated by Analytic Hierarchy Process. Finally, in the third step, model was used rating for prioritizing capable provinces. Results showed that Qom province, with average temperature, has the highest priority as a criterion and alternative.