Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Methods for Sustainability Assessment of Renewable Energy Systems and Its Potential Application to Sustainable STEM Education

Abstract

Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method as a significant tool has been used in various and distinct disciplines. In the case of assessment in the sustainability of renewable biomass energy systems, it is important to identify and choose the location, which is an important concern due to geographically and spatially dispersion of biomass feedstocks. Here, the techniques via Geographic Information System (GIS) are controlling the suitable locations of biomass plants in terms of renewable energy systems. Thus, because of the characteristics it has, it is only few occasions to employ and operate its concept into the academic field, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. This work presents a collective approach of MCDA-GIS and the Fuzzy-DEcision-MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (F-DEMATEL) to find optimal and favorable locations for biomass plants in the context of long-term sustainability and its possible application to sustainable STEM education. Along with the operational method of MCDA-GIS/F-DEMATEL, the most optimal locations of biomass plant can be found through the main criteria, constraints and their weight coefficients assigned in a case study proposed. The case study area has a characteristic that forest and agriculture are the typical land uses. To check the reliability of this work, the weighted linear combination (WLC) method and a sensitivity analysis are applied. The outcomes of MCDA-GIS/F-DEMATEL show that the best locations for biomass plants can be placed close to forests and low transport costs zone. Among criteria and sub-criteria, the vegetation cover, agricultural area, transport cost and potential demand are the most optimal criteria of MCDA-GIS/F-DEMATEL model. This proposed method of renewable energy policy planning can be pertained to decision-making glitches in private sectors, at government levels and academic fields. Here, particularly, it is essential to employ the experience to the possible sustainable STEM education, which always necessitates continuous attainment of knowledge and distribution.