By　combining　geographic　information　systems　(GIS)　and　multi-criteria　decision　making　(MCDM)　method,　this　paper　presents　a　framework　to　evaluate　the　suitable　location　and　technical　potentials　for　large-scale　solar　photovoltaic　(PV)　and　concentrated　solar　power　(CSP)　plants.　With　the　assist　of　spatial　tools,　the　potential　locations　are　identified　by　extracting　restrictive　criteria　(e.g.　protected　area,　land　cover,　transport　infrastructure,　and　orography).　Using　MCDM,　the　land　suitability　for　PV　and　CSP　plants　is　evaluated　with　the　comprehensive　consideration　of　different　factors,　such　as　climate,　orography,　water　availability,　and　location,　where　factor　weights　are　calculated　by　the　analytic　hierarchy　process　(AHP)　method.　The　study　framework　is　illustrated　by　Ningxia,　China,　a　key　energy　project　area　along　the　Belt　and　Road　with　abundant　solar　radiation.　The　obtained　results　suggested　that　the　middle　area　of　Ningxia　is　recommended　for　the　solar　power　plant　deployment.　Besides,　due　to　the　limitation　of　water　resource　availability,　PV　technology　is　more　appropriate　for　the　study　area　than　CSP　technology.　The　estimated　total　technical　potentials　of　PV　and　CSP　systems　could　be　443　TWh/year　and　308　TWh/year,　indicating　great　potential　for　future　solar　energy　development　to　enhance　the　renewable　energy　supply　and　participate　in　energy　cooperation　with　the　other　regions.　Moreover,　sensitivity　analysis　is　conducted　to　investigate　the　impacts　of　system　efficiency　variation　on　energy　output.　The　results　can　be　used　for　the　identification　of　the　potential　areas　for　solar　power　plant　installation,　as　well　as　support　for　the　synergic　expansion　of　generation　plants　and　the　power　grid.　©　2020