A Hybrid Neutrosophic GIS-MCDM Method Using a Weighted Combination Approach for Selecting Wind Energy Power Plant Locations: A Case Study of Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Abstract

The production and use of wind energy has eased the problems of energy scarcity and environmental pollution. However, the selection of locations for wind power plants is challenging because the associated decision-making process requires political, socio-economic, and environmental considerations. The selection of suboptimal sites has created several negative impacts. This study aims to resolve this issue by implementing the following factors: integrating a qualitative and quantitative multi-criteria decision-making framework for selecting locations for wind power plants; applying the new framework in Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, and investigating the neutrosophic analytic network process for weight assignment through expert-based and entropy-based criteria; choosing four potential alternative wind power plant sites, and using PROMETHEE-TOPSIS to help decision makers find the best possible alternative; and establishing the supremacy of one option over the other. The results indicate that by applying the proposed approach, an appropriate wind power plant location can be successfully selected among various alternatives.