System Engineering and Productivity

System Engineering and Productivity

Designing a Framework for Solar Power Plant Development Using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach and Data Envelopment Analysis

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Fatemeh Moslemi 1
Nasser Safaie 2
1 M.Sc., Faculty of Industrial Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
2 Corresponding author: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Industrial Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/sep.2025.2067377.1369
Abstract
In recent years, Iran has faced increasing challenges in meeting its energy demands, as evidenced by frequent power outages in both residential and industrial sectors. This situation underscores the urgent need for sustainable and reliable energy solutions. This study proposes a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making framework to identify and rank the most suitable regions for developing solar power plants across the country. The study employs a fuzzy logic-based approach to integrate multiple methods while accounting for the inherent uncertainty in data and expert opinions. In the first stage, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was utilized to evaluate the efficiency of all provinces based on climatic and geographical indicators, including solar radiation, sunshine hours, precipitation, cloud cover, and altitude, using data from the Iran Meteorological Organization. This process facilitated the screening and identification of provinces more suitable for establishing solar power plants. Subsequently, key and influential criteria for optimal site selection were determined and weighted using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) based on expert judgments. Finally, by integrating the results of the previous stages, the selected provinces were ranked using the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS). The results indicate that the central, southern, and southeastern provinces of Iran possess the highest potential for solar energy development. The findings of this research can assist decision-makers, planners, and investors in the energy sector to take a significant step toward advancing Iran’s transition to a more sustainable future and reducing its dependency on oil and gas.

Highlights

  • Identifying optimal locations for solar power plants with a multi-criteria decision-making framework
  • Helping data envelopment analysis, relying on climatic and geographical indicators, to screen potential provinces
  • Using fuzzy logic and expert judgments to weight criteria more accurately and manage uncertainties

Keywords
Renewable Energy
Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)
Geographical Prioritization
Subjects

Copyright © Fatemeh Moslemi, Nasser Safaie

 

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

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 October 2025

  • Receive Date 29 July 2025
  • Revise Date 30 August 2025
  • Accept Date 01 October 2025
  • First Publish Date 01 October 2025
  • Publish Date 01 October 2025