MCDM-Based Analysis of Site Suitability for Renewable Energy Community Projects in the Gargano District

The increasing urgency of the energy transition, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions, demands spatially informed planning tools to guide renewable energy development. This study presents a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach to assess the suitability of the Gargano district in southern Italy for the implementation of Renewable Energy Communities. The analysis combines expert-based weighting and the Weighted Linear Combination method to evaluate seven key criteria grouped into environmental, socioeconomic, and technical dimensions. The resulting suitability scores, calculated at the municipal scale, highlight spatial disparities across the district, revealing that areas with the highest potential for Renewable Energy Community (REC) deployment are largely situated at the boundaries of the Gargano National Park. These zones benefit from stronger infrastructure, higher energy demand, and fewer environmental constraints, particularly with regard to wind energy initiatives. Conversely, municipalities within the park exhibit lower suitability, constrained by strict landscape regulations and lower population density. The findings provide valuable insights for regional planners and policymakers, supporting the adoption of targeted, environmentally compatible strategies for the advancement of citizen-led renewable energy initiatives in complex territorial contexts.