System Engineering and Productivity

System Engineering and Productivity

Evaluation and Prioritization of Electricity Generation Technologies in Iran Using a Multi-criteria Decision-making Approach

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mona Avazpour 1
Javad Zarei 2
Esmaeil Alinezhad 3
1 B.Sc., Department of Industrial Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran
2 Corresponding author: Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran
10.22034/sep.2025.2063697.1333
Abstract
Energy is one of the main pillars of economic and social development of societies and plays a fundamental role in areas such as industry, transportation, agriculture, and daily life. In the meantime, electricity, as one of the most important forms of energy, has gained a special place, and the increase in demand for it has increased the importance of choosing appropriate methods of electricity generation. There are several methods for electricity generation, such as gas power plants, combined cycle, coal, nuclear, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, etc., each of which has different characteristics and consequences. Considering the differences in performance, cost, environmental impacts, and social dimensions of these methods, prioritizing electricity generation technologies is an important step towards achieving sustainable development and optimal decision-making in the energy sector. This manuscript aims to identify and prioritize electricity generation technologies using qualitative and quantitative criteria in Iran. Therefore, first, electricity generation technologies are identified, and the values ​​of environmental, social, economic, and technical indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, cost per kilowatt-hour of electricity, initial investment, employment rate, etc. are extracted for each technology. Finally, using the Best-Worst method, the weights of the indicators are determined, and using the VIKOR multi-criteria decision-making method, electricity generation technologies are prioritized. The results show that the combined cycle is the best technology and the green hydrogen power plant is the least preferred technology among the 13 electricity generation technologies.

Highlights

  • Prioritization of 13 power generation technologies using multi-criteria decision-making.
  • Evaluation and identification of economic, environmental, social and technical indicators.
  • Weighting of indicators using the best-worst method (BWM) and ranking of power generation technologies using the VIKOR method.
  • Selection of combined cycle as the best technology and green hydrogen power plant as the least important technology.

Keywords
Energy
Electricity generation technologies
Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)
Best-Worst Method (BWM)
VIKOR Method
Subjects

Copyright © Mona Avazpour, Javad Zarei, Esmaeil Alinezhad

 

License

This article is released under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone is free to copy, share, translate, and adapt this article for any purpose, whether commercial or non-commercial, as long as proper citation is given to the authors and original publication.

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System Engineering and Productivity
Volume 5, Issue 3 - Serial Number 16
Serial No. 16, Autumn Quarterly
Autumn 2025
Pages 179-198

  • Receive Date 14 June 2025
  • Revise Date 02 July 2025
  • Accept Date 13 July 2025
  • First Publish Date 13 July 2025
  • Publish Date 22 November 2025