Appropriate Renewable Energy Sources for Electricity Generation: A Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Approach

The use of different types of renewable energy and replacing the polluting non-renewable and perishable sources show the increasing importance of decision making. In this line, the current study proposes a selection method for the best-established means of electricity generation from renewable energies. A multi-attribute decision making (MADM) model, by applying the methods of CCSD and COPRAS is used. As an applied quantitative research, the significance of this paper is the application of a new hybrid method based on MADM techniques. A number of twenty attributes, being divided into four categories of technological, economic, environmental and social aspects, as well as four sources of renewable energy are analyzed. The alternatives used here include wind power, solar power, biomass, and hydroelectricity. The results reveal that solar power and wind energy are the most appropriate alternatives for electricity generation.