Multi-criteria analysis of alternative biogas technologies

Abstract

The need for reliable and renewable energy sources is increasing day by day and with it is the revived interest in the biogas technology, especially when addressing rural cooking and lighting energy needs. MNRE, which is the nodal agency for all biogas programmes, has been promoting around 15 biogas models. However, there is no documentation available on how the models are approved thus, leaving the choice of model to the end users. This has resulted in promotion of the models based on the organisation's (governmental and non-governmental) expertise in constructing certain models rather than the informed choice of the end user. One of the answers to these questions, is a multi-criteria decision making tool which can aid in the promotion of different biogas technologies on the basis of several socio-economic-environmental criteria maybe able to address these questions. The tool can be used to make the decisions from various perspectives e.g the government, the NGOs, the users, etc. This study undertakes an analysis based on the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) tool for biogas technologies being promoted by GOI with a perspective of overall self reliance of the country. A case study approach has been illustrated for a small biogas plant of 2 m3 with a perspective of sustainable development. A total of 17 attributes, both quantitative and qualitative, have been used in a two level hierarchy to carry out the AHP. © 2014 The Authors.