Implementing MCDM Techniques for Ranking Renewable Energy Projects under Fuzzy Environment: A Case Study

Mohsen Ramezanzade, Hossein Karimi, Khalid Almutairi, Hoa Ao Xuan, Javad Saebi, Ali Mostafaeipour and Kuaanan Techato
Additional contact information
Mohsen Ramezanzade: Department of Water Resources Basic Studies of North Khorasan Regional Water Company, Bojnord 94156-44891, Iran
Hossein Karimi: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bojnord, Bojnord 94531-55111, Iran
Khalid Almutairi: Mechanical Engineering Technology, Applied College, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafar Al Batin 39524, Saudi Arabia
Hoa Ao Xuan: Faculty of Economics, Tay Nguyen University, Buon Ma Thuot City 63000, Vietnam
Javad Saebi: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Bojnord, Bojnord 94531-55111, Iran
Ali Mostafaeipour: Industrial Engineering Department, Yazd University, Yazd 89158-18411, Iran
Kuaanan Techato: Faculty Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-38

Abstract: Energy requirements have increased dramatically due to industrialization, economic, and population growth. To meet this demand, and solve its challenges, such as climate change, renewable energies do play an important role. This research work aims at selecting the best renewable energy projects using a hybrid decision-making framework from environmental, economic, technical, and social aspects at a sub-national level. In this regard, a new hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making model is deployed in which Vise Kriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje, distance from average solution, and additive ratio assessment methods are used. In addition, for the weighing of criteria, Fuzzy Shannon’s entropy is used. Furthermore, the North Khorasan province is nominated as a sub-national study area. The results show that among 30 sub-criteria, social acceptance, net-presented cost, and noise were the top three with weights of 0.1105, 0.1003, and 0.0988, respectively. Solar energy projects also accomplished high ranks with an overall score of roughly 0.22. After that, small hydropower got second place with a score of 0.187. Moreover, the ranking of cities indicates that Jajarm was the most suitable location for implementing renewable energy development with a score of 0.14. Finally, sensitivity analysis was carried out to show that the mathematical model possessed good robustness.

Keywords: sustainability development; renewable energy; ranking; multi-criteria decision-making; fuzzy theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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