Application of multi-criteria methods to compare different solutions of supplying buildings in electricity from photovoltaic systems

¹ Industrial Engineering Department, Florence University, Italy
² Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland

^a Corresponding author: alicja.stoltmann@pg.gda.pl

Abstract

Nowadays, the technologies of electricity generation in distributed systems are usually associated with Renewable Energy Sources (RES). The choice of the construction site depends mainly on the availability of the power system. However, energy planning, especially in case of RES, is a complex process involving multiple and often conflicting objectives. The complexity of the selection of the electricity system is typically addressed with the use of multi-criteria tools, involving all of the considered criteria and also different methods of their aggregation. The result is a final ranking of the available alternatives. This paper describes the application of a multi-criteria decision tool for the comparative analysis of the use of alternative options of the PV technology for electricity production. Four decision variants are considered, including the different construction of solar farms (static and movable structure) and different types of configuration of individual installation (off and on-grid). The construction of each new sources of electricity generation, including PV, is the multi-threaded and multi-dimensional decision problem. The criteria used in the analysis combine economic, environmental and social issues. The first of the considered criterion is the Net Present Value (NPV) which determines the economic viability of the project. The second criterion, thermo-ecological cost (TEC), connecting energy and environmental issues. Finally, the Land Use (LU) is considered as a social criterion. As aggregation function, the Weighted Sum Method (WSM) is used. The sensitivity analysis of the criteria weights was performed with the use of a novel method involving Monte Carlo simulation and a method of data reconciliation.