Methodology for distribution centers location through multicriteria analysis and optimization

This paper presents a combined methodology based on multicriteria decision analysis and optimization for the distribution centers location problem. The initial approach consists of a set of relevant quantitative and qualitative attributes used for the decision of locating distribution centers. From quantitative criteria a multi-objective mathematical programming model to minimize costs is proposed. This model provides alternative solutions that may be compared to the other ones initially known. These solutions are assessed for a multicriteria decision model which incorporates qualitative considerations of the problem that are infeasible to represent algebraically. Therefore, the application of the multi-criteria decision analysis model evaluates a set of feasible solutions to suggest for the best alternative considering several attributes

A qualitative multi-attribute model for the selection of the private hydropower plant investments in Turkey: by foundation of the search results clustering engine (Carrot2), hydropower plant clustering, DEXi and DEXiTree

Purpose: The electricity demand in Turkey has been increasing for a while. Hydropower is one of the major electricity generation types to compensate this electricity demand in Turkey. Private investors (domestic and foreign) in the hydropower electricity generation sector have been looking for the most appropriate and satisfactory new private hydropower investment (PHPI) options and opportunities in Turkey. This study aims to present a qualitative multiattribute decision making (MADM) model, that is easy, straightforward, and fast for the selection of the most satisfactory reasonable PHPI options during the very early investment stages (data and information poorness on projects). Design/methodology/approach: The data and information of the PHPI options was gathered from the official records on the official websites. A wide and deep literature review was conducted for the MADM models and for the hydropower industry. The attributes of the model were identified, selected, clustered and evaluated by the expert decision maker (EDM) opinion and by help of an open source search results clustering engine (Carrot2) (helpful for also comprehension). The PHPI options were clustered according to their installed capacities main property to analyze the options in the most appropriate, decidable, informative, understandable and meaningful way. A simple clustering algorithm for the PHPI options was executed in the current study. A template model for the selection of the most satisfactory PHPI options was built in the DEXi (Decision EXpert for Education) and the DEXiTree software. Findings: The basic attributes for the selection of the PHPI options were presented and afterwards the aggregate attributes were defined by the bottom-up structuring for the early investment stages. The attributes were also analyzed by help of Carrot2. The most satisfactory PHPI options in Turkey in the big options data set were selected for each PHPI options cluster by the EDM evaluations in the DEXi. Originality/value: The recommended DEXi PHPI selection model by the search results clustering engine within a country wise case offered the possibility of easy, meaningful and satisfying continental or worldwide applications for the private investors and the international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, or the World Bank was the main contribution.Peer Reviewe

Preferences matter: A constructive approach to incorporating local stakeholders' preferences in the sustainability evaluation of energy technologies

This research paper aims at developing and applying a constructive weighting methodology for the elicitation of local stakeholders' preferences regarding a set of sustainability evaluation criteria during the assessment of low-carbon energy technologies. The overall methodology has been applied and tested for the sustainability evaluation of selected low-carbon energy technologies in Europe from a local stakeholders' perspective. The researchers applied a constructive weighting methodology based on different Multiple Criteria Analysis (MCA) techniques to test the consistency of stakeholders' preferences. The methodology was piloted based on a small-scale European local stakeholders' survey within the framework of Covenant CapaCITY, an Intelligent Energy Europe project that supports the development of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs). It became evident that the local stakeholders who participated placed high priorities on aspects such as CO2eq emissions reduction, ecosystem damages reduction, and resilience to climate change during the evaluation of low-carbon energy technologies. Considering the overall energy technologies assessment, wind off-shore, solar PV, hydropower, and wind on-shore achieved the highest scores and better reflected the priorities of local stakeholders considering a large set of multiple sustainability criteria. The high number of criteria led to some inconsistencies of stakeholders' preferences, confirming the need for consistency checks and/or combining different methods of preference elicitation

Advanced methods for sustainable energy systems in operation and design of district heating networks

District heating networks (DHN) are an efficient way of providing thermal energy to consumers. Current state of the art shows that DHNs are developing towards smart thermal networks in integrated energy systems while their design is based upon the principles of sustainability. Based on that, this thesis covers two main research areas: Operation and design of district heating systems. In part A of this thesis, advanced methods for DHN operation are developed with the help of exergetic and thermoeconomic analysis. This includes the formulation of exergetic cost balances for graph-based network models. Intrinsic part is the deployment of an algebraic matrix, which determines the exergetic costs for dynamic system modeling. A case study of a real-existing network provides evidence that the proposed methodology offers new insights into individual allocation of costs which helps to assess the feasibility of third-party integration and the integration of distributed energy sources. In part B of this thesis, a new indicator called “load deviation index (LDI)” is proposed to link demand side measures (DSM) with the sustainable design of DHN systems. For that, a business-focused design framework s proposed which takes the critical influences of DHN into account while avoiding a too high detail. DSM behavior is analyzed from a system perspective and its impact on DHN design is studied in two case studies. While one focuses on benchmarks for different design options using a multi-criteria sustainability metric, another gives detailed insights into the usefulness of the proposed framework for design purposes through assessing the impact of DSM on possible design improvements using a multi-objective optimization approach