Accurate assessment of the photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential in China is important for the reduction of carbon emission intensity and the achievement of the goal of Carbon Neutral. This study used a PV power generation potential assessment system based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods to investigate the PV power generation potential in China. Firstly, the hig. Accurate assessment of the photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential in China is important for the reduction of carbon emission intensity and the achievement of the goal of Carbon Neutral. This study used a PV power generation potential assessment system based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods to investigate the PV power generation potential in China. Firstly, the high spatial-temporal resolution and high-quality ERA5 data and related technical, geographic, and social factors were used to assess the theoretical power generation and land suitability of PV power generation. Then, the theoretical power generation and land suitability were comprehensively considered to evaluate the PV power generation potential of China in 2015. The results showed that the average suitability score of land in China is 0.1058 and the suitable land for PV power generation is about 993,000 km2 in 2015. The PV power generation potential of China is 131.942 PWh, which is approximately 23 times the electricity demand of China in 2015. The spatial distribution characteristics of PV power generation potential mainly showed a downward trend from northwest to southeast. Meanwhile, there were clear spatial dislocations between the PV power generation potential and the population distribution and electricity demand in China. In areas that accounting for about 75% of the PV potential, population and electricity demand only accounted for. ••A GIS and MCDM based PV generation potential assessment system is proposed.••Theoretical power generation and land suitability is assessed.••Spatial characteristics of PV power generation potential is analyzed.••Clear spatial dislocations between PV power generation potential and population distribution and electricity demand.Photovoltaic potentialTheoretical power generationLand suitabilityComprehensive assessmentIn recent years, the economy of China has continued to grow steadily, and the Gross National Product (GDP) in 2020 has exceeded 100 trillion yuan. Meanwhile, carbon emissions are also increasing. According to Global Carbon Atlas, the carbon emissions of China have reached 9.839 billion tons in 2017, accounting for about 27.2% of the carbon emissions of the world, and China has become the country with the most carbon emissions in the world. China has already taken action to reduce carbon intensity. According to statistics, the carbon emission intensity of China in 2019 has been reduced by 48.1% compared to 2005, which is mainly due to the long-term implementation of national policies such as resource conservation and environmental protection. Solar energy is an inexhaustible clean energy that does not pollute the environment. A substantial increase in the proportion of clean energy such as solar energy in the energy structure of China will make outstanding contributions for reducing carbon emission intensity. The promotion of PV power generation based on solar energy can increase the proportion of clean energy in the energy structure of China. China is rich in solar energy resources, and the highest Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) in China can reach about 2300 Kwh/m2, but it is not until the past decade that solar energy in China has gradually begun to develop rapidly. The installed PV capacity in China has increased from 0.03 Gwh in 2009 to 204.18 Gwh in 2019, an increase of abou. 2.1. Theoretical PV power generationIn this section, solar radiation intercepted by PV panels, PV module parameters, temperature correction factor, shadow correction factor, and packing factor are calculated. The theoretical PV power generation is calculated through the overlay analysis of these factors.2.2. Criteria selection of land suitabilityIn this study, 9 criteria are selected to assess the land suitability. These criteria are described in detail in this section.2.3. Evaluation of land suitabilityIn this study, a combination weighting method of entropy method and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to calculate the comprehensive weight of each criterion. The land suitability map for PV power generation in China is derived from the weighted overlay of the land suitability map of each criterion.2.4. PV power generation potential.
