|
The Directorate – General for Energy and Transport (DG TREN) of the European Commission, in the framework of the Energie Programme, is co-financing and supporting the project entitled “Development and Application of A Multi-Criteria Software Decision Analysis Tool for Renewable Energy Sources (MCDA-RES)” which is undertaken by an international consortium led by the University of Aegean.
The aim of the project is to to develop a Software Decision Tool that will enable the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of RES investments and apply it in three case-studies. Secondary objectives are: to promote RES in isolated regions under distributed generation and deregulated energy markets, to map social preference of stakeholders in an energy-environment-economy framework, to eliminate uncertainties and risk of new technologies, to assist with environmental protection and emission reductions, to encourage creation of new skilled jobs, to invigorate the EU's RES manufacturing industry, to reduce oil imports, to demonstrate innovative methodological solutions and their integration in realistic operating conditions, to enhance the security and diversity of energy systems in isolated areas, to enable local authorities, non-governmental organizations, central government, etc. participating in Group Decision Analysis for RES investments, to promote internet-based exchange of technical and other expertise in RES applications..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Project Consortium:
the University of the Aegean-Department of Environmental Studies (Greece) – Prime Contractor
The Free University of Amsterdam-Economic and Social Institute (Netherlands)
The Autonomous University of Barcelona-Centre for Environmental Studies (Spain)
For more information on the thematic programmes of
the Fifth (EC) RTD Framework Programme (1998-2002)
Work package 1. Selection of the appropriate multi-criteria decision making technique
Work package 3. The development of the multimedia-based Software package
Work package 4. The implementation of the decision making process
|
|
DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF A MULTI-CRITERIA SOFTWARE DECISION ANALYSIS TOOL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
OBJECTIVES AND PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
To develop a
Software Decision Tool that'll enable the Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of
RES investments and apply it in three case-studies. Secondary objectives are: to
promote RES in isolated regions under distributed generation and deregulated
energy markets, to map social preference of stakeholders in an
energy-environment-economy framework, to eliminate uncertainties and risk of new
technologies, to assist with environmental protection and emission reductions,
to encourage creation of new skilled jobs, to invigorate the EU's RES
manufacturing industry, to reduce oil imports, to demonstrate innovative
methodological solutions and their integration in realistic operating
conditions, to enhance the security and diversity of energy systems in isolated
areas, to enable local authorities, non-governmental organizations, central
government, etc. participating in Group Decision Analysis for RES investments,
to promote internet-based exchange of technical and other expertise in RES
applications.
back to contents
The project is envisaged to comprise of the following sub-tasks:
a. Selection of
the appropriate multi-criteria decision making technique, which will be the
central focus of the
methodology framework.
b. Structuring of the Decision Model which will incorporate: i) the identification of the various Stakeholders and the elicitation of their weight attributes, ii) the relevant energy, economy, environment data, iii) the evaluation criteria that will address energy, technical, economic, environmental, social, risk and policy issues. iv) the development of alternative scenarios and formulation of the decision matrix.
c. The implementation of the decision making process; the contribution of the various energy, environment, economy experts at all levels extending from the main funding levels (Central Government, European Union, Regional Authorities) to the local people in the vicinity of the three case studies is expected to provide for a transparent framework of decision making.
d. The
realisation of the integrated multicriteria decision analysis process in a
multimedia-based software package that will be developed around an
Internet-based framework, enhancing cooperation among experts/analysts,
data/information retrieval, decision-making and results dissemination.
back to contents
EXPECTED RESULTS AND EXPLOITATION PLANS
A Software Decision Tool (a software package with a Multicriteria Decision Model) , with the various parameters, inputs, outputs and calculation algorithms is the first milestone. It will be transferred to a user-friendly CD version and distributed to interested parties in Europe. It will bring into contact manufacturers and trading companies of energy equipment, consultants and regional planning authorities. Three workshops will be organized to demonstrate the concept and applicability of the project. Publications in scientific journals and conferences will disseminate results to a wider audience in the EU.
Work package 1. Selection of the appropriate multi-criteria decision making technique
It involves the initial investigation and analysis of the appropriate Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology to be adopted. It is envisaged that among the candidate methodologies will be: utility methods, outranking methods, programming methods, etc.
Since there are no better or worse MCDA methods, it is the overall framework of the energy-environment-economy interactions that is going to influence the evaluation process. Therefore the selected methods will be analyzed and ranked following their performance on a number of criteria such as complexity, clarity, simplicity, ease of use and time and resources needed for their implementation. The final identification and selection of the most suitable method will be deduced from the relevant qualifications and shortcomings of each candidate method.
Task 1.1: initial survey and analysis of multicriteria decision making techniques
Task 1.2: comparative evaluation of performance in RES investments appraisal
Task 1.3:
Final identification and selection of multicriteria decision making technique.
back to contents
Work package 2. Structuring of the Decision Model
This is one of the most important Work packages. It concerns the formulation of the matrix for the stakeholders and their attributes, the necessary regional input data, the definition of relevant evaluation criteria to address energy, technical, economic, environmental, social, risk and policy issues and the corresponding interaction with various data bases that contain the pertinent information in an analytical, systematic, hierarchical and structured form. The structure of the databases will also contain, in an easily updated form, data regarding costs, environmental pressures, regional planning issues, manufacturers, fuel, energy and technical consultants. Where appropriate, they will draw information from existing database structures, either within the EU or other organizations. The whole concept of the Decision Model will be examined and assessed regarding its applicability and ease of handling in a number of test cases extended in various EU regions, different projects and renewable energy sources.
Task 2.1: Identification of the stakeholders and the elicitation of their weight attributes.
Task 2.2: Collection of relevant regional energy, economic, social and environmental data
Task 2.3: Identification of the evaluation criteria for energy, technical, economic, environmental, social, risk and policy issues.
Task 2.4: Data bases for manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, authorities, experts, investors, NGOs,
Task 2.5: Data base of Costs, technologies, environmental pressures, regional planning issues, fuels
Task 2.6:
Development of alternative scenarios and formulation of the decision matrix.
back to contents
Work package 3. The development of the multimedia-based Software package
The whole methodology will be developed in a user-friendly software package (which will be menu-driven, option-based, enabling interaction with the user and having intuitive features), in order to facilitate its distribution to various parties and organizations in the EU. It will act as a focal point for renewable energy investments and enable decision makers, manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, experts to come into interaction for the successful implementation of the projects.
The whole approach will be centered around Internet facilities, enhancing cooperation among experts/analysts, data/information retrieval, decision-making and results dissemination. To this effect the structure of the data bases will contain the internet addresses of relevant energy equipment manufacturer’s and of companies specializing in energy projects (e.g. OPETs), to facilitate data and information retrieval. Free distribution will
Task 3.1: Development of authorware database software package.
Task 3.2:
Development of CD and related manual
back to contents
Work package 4. The implementation of the decision making process
Three case studies in three different EU countries will be involved for the real application of the MCDA Software Tool. For each case study, relevant data will be collected and evaluated. The preference of the various stakeholders will be elicited through questionnaires, public meetings, debates, exchange of information, etc. The collected data, criteria and preferences will be normalised for inputting in the MCDA Software Tool. The various parameters, necessary for the selected decision model, will be determined and the whole multicriteria decision process will be simulated in order to extract the matrix of the results. The process will be interactively repeated to establish the sensitivity analysis, perform the decision process appraisal and finalise the compromised solution, which will correspond to the group consensus of the various parties involved.
Task 4.1: Collection and evaluation of data, relevant to each case study. Elicitation of preference
Task 4.2: Normalisation of data and criteria
Task 4.3: Implementation of multicriteria decision making process and initial extraction of results.
Task 4.4: Final analysis of results and sensitivity analysis of solutions.
Task 4.5: Identification of
final compromise solutions and appraisal of decision process.
back to contents
The previous tasks will culminate to this work package, which encompasses the most significant European-wide dimension of the project. Work package No 5 will collect and establish all data involving the european state-of-the-art for the MCDA framework of renewable energy investments. It will formulate the necessary guidelines to identify economic, environmental and social targets involving the promotion and comparison RES projects and establishing an overall energy strategy plan with quantifiable dimensions in monetary, emissions, energy consumption, employment, etc. issues.
These guidelines will take into account and reflect the individual features of the regions, involving indicators concerning: energy consumption, environmental state, employment, economy.
The analysis will develop a standardised portfolio for energy investments, where the new opportunities arising from current trends in the liberalisation of energy markets and decentralised power production will be taken into account.
The whole framework will be analysed and evaluated.
Task 5.1: The European state-of-the-art.
Task 5.2: Guidelines formulation for targets related to energy, economical, environmental, social issues.
Task 5.3:
Standardised portfolio for RES investments. Analysis and evaluation.
back to contents
Work package 6. The dissemination of results
At least three workshops in the regions involved will be held in order to test the whole approach, finetune the methodology and extract necessary remediate actions. The whole process will be interactive and all parties involved will be able to participate through an internet-based exercise in order to test its feasibility.
The software package and the corresponding manual and printed material (CDs and document) will be widely distributed in order to achieve broad dissemination in the EU ( A total number of 300 copies is expected to circulate and a response in demand policy will be enforced). No intellectual property rights are envisaged since it is thought that an open, free for all, policy will promote distribution and application spread.
Relevant articles in journals, conferences, etc., will add to the overall presentation of results and acceptability of the procedure.
Finally a training course will be offered to energy specialists, energy investors, decision makers, industry representatives, etc., to promote the ideas, concepts and tools developed during the project. The course will involve lectures, visits to RES projects, and hand-on experience on similar case-studies. It will draw lecturers from the people involved with the implementation of the project and experts from the scientific community of the EU.
Task 6.1: Three workshops.
Task 6.2: Distribution of software and manual.
Task 6.3: Presentation of related articles in journals, conferences, etc.
Task 6.4:
Training course.
back to contents
Work package 7. Management of the project.
This work package runs concurrently with all previous packages in order to establish the smooth flow of information among participants. It will guarantee the proper implementation for each part of the project, standardise the exchange of data, communications and develop the appropriate format for easy access and information retrieval.
In addition it will make all necessary contacts with outside bodies and collect material and data necessary for the various subtasks and distribute to the project partners.
Finally it will prepare the interim reports to the European Commission.
back to contents
The MCDA-res partners are solely responsible for the contents of this website and
they do not represent the opinion of
the European Commission, which is not responsible for any use that might be made
of the data appearing herein.
