A fuzzy cognitive maps decision support system for renewables local planning

Initiatives as the Covenant of Mayors and the European Union (EU) binding targets of 20-20-20 are bringing Regional Planning of Renewable Energy Sources (RFS) at the center of attention nowadays. This situation creates the need for simplified and straight forward decision support systems for local governance officers. This paper presents the design and implementation of a fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM) decision support toolkit (DST) for local RES planning. DST provides the derision maker with an overall qualitative evaluation of the examined investment promptly with minimum effort. All the related parameters (legal/regulative/administrative, financial, technical, social and environmental) that affect the evaluation of RES investment in a local community are investigated. A tool based on fuzzy cognitive maps is designed and implemented on a web platform. The DST has been tested and validated successfully through application in real investments on Crete Island and comparison to the evaluation results reached by a panel of experts. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.