Application of multi-criteria assessment in decision-making proces in planning of sustainable development of energy system options

Abstract

Coal combustion power plant Kolubara A has five thermal units with total installed capacity of 270 MW operates as a part of Public Enterprise which has planned to accept and apply the Clean Development Mechanism (new power plants on lignite and natural gas with higher energy efficiency as well as activities related to the rehabilitation and modernization of existing facilities). Two units were put in operation before more than fifty years and in order to extend the lifetime of these blocks in the process of revitalization, in this paper, beside an existing option which considers coal (lignite) combustion, are analysed possible options of thermal power units with gas and renewable energy sources: biomass, renewable solid fuels, waste materials, wind and sun. Paper presents seven energy system options of the thermal unit status which are described with suitable chosen indicators in respect to different aspects of sustainability: economical, ecological, social and resources indicators. In this paper energy indicators are defined as a tool for the sustainability assessment of energy system options. ASPID method of multi-criteria assessment was used to calculate general index of sustainability and obtained ranking of options. This study presented and analysed cases, with predefined constraints when priority has environmental indicator and different conditions where one of sub-indicators have priority, as an example of applying multi-criteria method.