The Selection of Wind Power Project Location in the Southeastern Corridor of Pakistan: A Factor Analysis, AHP, and Fuzzy-TOPSIS Application

Yasir Ahmed Solangi, Qingmei Tan, Muhammad Waris Ali Khan, Nayyar Hussain Mirjat and Ifzal Ahmed
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Yasir Ahmed Solangi: College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China
Qingmei Tan: College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China
Muhammad Waris Ali Khan: Faculty of Industrial Management, University Malaysia, Pahang 26300, Malaysia
Nayyar Hussain Mirjat: Department of Electrical Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro 76062, Pakistan
Ifzal Ahmed: Department of Business Management, Karakoram International University, Gilgit 15100, Pakistan

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-26

Abstract: Pakistan has sufficient wind energy potential across various locations of the country. However, so far, wind energy development has not attained sufficient momentum matching its potential. Amongst various other challenges, the site selection for wind power development has always been a primary concern of the decision-makers. Principally, wind project site selection decisions are driven by various multifaceted criteria. As such, in this study, a robust research framework comprising of factor analysis (FA) of techno-economic and socio-political factors, and a hybrid analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) have been used for the prioritization of sites in the southeastern region of Pakistan. The results of this study reveal economic and land acquisition as the most significant criteria and sub-criteria, respectively. From the eight different sites considered, Jamshoro has been prioritized as the most suitable location for wind project development followed by Hyderabad, Nooriabad, Gharo, Keti Bandar, Shahbandar, Sajawal, and Talhar. This study provides a comprehensive decision support framework comprising of FA and a hybrid AHP and Fuzzy TOPSIS for the systematic analysis to prioritize suitable sites for the wind project development in Pakistan.

Keywords: wind project site selection; factor analysis; AHP; fuzzy TOPSIS; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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