This research aims at developing methodological tools for decision makers (DMs) to determine the locations for generating sites for hybrid renewable energy systems, considering complementarity characteristics of the corresponding sources and their seasonal availability. The decision process on new sites starts using Geographic Information Systems for modeling relevant spatial criteria. The problem solution is associated with using the Slide-OWA operator, which permits one to control the inter-criteria compensation levels by adjusting pessimism and optimism parameters. After constructing multicriteria estimates for generating sites, the general scheme of multi-objective decision-making is applied in conditions of uncertainty since these estimates are subject to significant levels of uncertainty. Such a scheme is based on the possibilistic approach, which involves the construction of payoff matrices. At this point, it is possible that some alternatives cannot be distinguished based only on the criteria considered so far, or the DM may want to evaluate the alternatives from the point of view of additional considerations. For this purpose, the framework of multi-attribute decision-making models is applied by employing methods for preference modeling in a fuzzy environment. The present work results are applied to a case study of the Minas Gerais State in Brazil. These results play a strategic role for governments and investors in their decisions while considering the ability to meet a wide range of criteria.

The objective of this research is to develop methodological tools to consider qualitative information in solving spatial problems with their particular application to the determination of generating sites for renewable energy systems. This locational problem has a complex nature and its solution has to be capable to take into account a wide range of considerations, as well as evaluations of a qualitative character. In this sense, the proposed process of elaborating decisions starts with studies related to the spatial criteria, which are modeled and processed within the Spatial Multicriteria Analysis. The relative importance of the spatial criteria is established by the involved experts on the basis of the construction, transformation, and processing of preference relations within the framework of the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The resulting decision maps are generated by aggregating the spatial criteria, applying the Ordered Weighted Averaging operator and the linguistic quantifiers. These maps permit one to highlight rational solution alternatives, which, if necessary, are evaluated, compared, chosen, prioritized, and/or ordered, applying additional spatial criteria (of quantitative as well as qualitative character), by means of techniques for preference modeling in a fuzzy environment (within the framework of so-called < X,R >. models). The corresponding decision process permits one to take into account and process quantitative and qualitative spatial criteria as well as preferences and judgments of the experts. The paper results are illustrated by a Case Study related to the determination of the most suitable locational alternatives for renewable power plants in the Minas Gerais state, Brazil.