Using Value-Focused Thinking and Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making to Evaluate Energy Transition Alternatives

Tim Höfer (), Rüdiger von Nitzsch () and Reinhard Madlener
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Tim Höfer: E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), https://www.fcn.eonerc.rwth-aachen.de
Rüdiger von Nitzsch: Chair of Decision Theory and Financial Services, Postal: School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 64, 52064 Aachen, Germany

No 4/2019, FCN Working Papers from E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN)

Abstract: The future transformation of the energy system is a contentious topic, involving a variety of conflicting opinions and interests. In order to structure and evaluate these opinions, we develop a group decision-making process with professional stakeholders and energy experts. The aim of this process is to develop a common objective system for the energy transition and to evaluate four possible energy transition alternatives for Germany until 2030. The stakeholders are involved in every step of the decision-making process – the development of the alternatives, the definition of the objective system, and the final evaluation of the alternatives. We apply Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) to define and structure the objectives of the stakeholders and use Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) to evaluate the preferences of the stakeholders towards these objectives. The results show that a majority of the stakeholders prefers the energy transition alternative, which has the highest ambitions to limit climate change. A minority prefers the pan-European alternative where Germany’s power system is further integrated into the European energy system.

Keywords: Group Decision-Making; MAUT; Value-Focused Thinking; Energy Scenarios (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D70 D81 D90 Q40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2019-04-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-hme, nep-ore and nep-upt
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:fcnwpa:2019_004

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