Use of Multi-Criteria Decision Making in Establishment of Solar Power Plant in NIT Rourkela

Abstract

In majority of decision-making processes it is imperative that one considers several conflicting targets. The term “Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)” describes several ways developed specifically to aid decision makers in reaching the most optimized decisions. Sustainable Energy planning problems are complex problems with multiple decision makers and a multitude of criteria. That is why, such problems are very much suited to the use of MCDM. A multitude of MCDM methods exists. Each of the methods to be used such as ELECTREE, AHP, VIKOR, TOPSIS, and ANP etc. has its advantages and drawbacks. Methods from all of these groups have been applied to sustainable energy related decision making problems, especially in the mathematical assessment of alternative electricity supply strategies, which in our case is planning an optimized strategy for the proposed solar power plant in NIT Rourkela using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Till date, studies of Multi-Criteria Decision Making in energy planning have most often considered energy networks with only one energy carrier. More developed energy systems with various energy suppliers have not been given proper importance, although this field is supposed to be suitable for use of MCDM due to its deep complexity, plenty of decision-makers and several conflicting criteria