Siting Carbon Conversion Energy Facilities with Spatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

Abstract

Wyoming is known for its abundance of fossil fuels, and has a significant infrastructure to support the production of these traditional energy resources. With increased demand for more diverse energy sources, a need has emerged to pursue new, innovative energy development approaches. This article describes the application of spatial multicriteria analysis to explore potential for carbon conversion energy facilities in Wyoming. Spatial multicriteria analysis is an important capability of geographic information systems, applying multiple criteria evaluation to place-based problems such as facilities siting. Two cases are presented concerning synthetic gas production—the siting of a small-scale coal gasification facility to support a public–private research partnership, and development of a statewide suitability model for commercialization of high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactor technology. Results demonstrate that success and challenges with multicriteria techniques are influenced by the availability of quality geospatial data, accessibility of computational processing resources, and committed engagement and utilization of domain experts