Using multi-criteria decision-making methods to select the best location for the construction of a biomass power plant in Iran

Biomass is one of the most convenient types of renewable energy resources around the world. Densely populated areas all over the globe produce a vast amount of mineral and organic wastes which can be perfect candidates for biomass energy generation. Therefore, the location in which a biomass power plant is installed is of utmost importance. In this research, feasibility of biomass energy generations has been studied by implementing the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Method. In order to perform this study, SAW, TOPSIS, and ELECTRE methods have been implemented using Shannon entropy mass method. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis has been carried out for 6 different criteria mass for all of the applied decision-making methods. In order to test and verify these models, appropriate areas in East and North East of Iran have been chosen. Afterward, selected cities in this area have been prioritized via various criteria, namely waste production per capita, slope, temperature, relative humidity, population, distance from fault, distance from road, distance from city center, precipitation, number of freezing days and altitude. Mass results indicated that population criterion had the highest mass, while altitude had the lowest mass. Additionally, prioritization results via all three methods unanimously showed that city of Mashhad, located in province of Razavi Khorasan, is the most appropriate spot to install a biomass power plant due to its high population. Furthermore, city of Nehbandan, located in Southern Khorasan, is the worst place for biomass power plant due to population index and distance from electrical power substation. TOPSIS showed the least sensitivity to criteria mass among the employed methods.