A Multi Criteria Approach to Rank Renewable Energy Technologies for Domestic Sector Electricity Demand of Pakistan

Abstract

Renewable technologies could be utilized to solve the energy crises of world’s sixth most populous country, Pakistan. Being rich in renewable resources of energy, the demand of electricity in household sector of Pakistan can easily be fulfilled which is otherwise scarce and have made the life of common people highly miserable. To formulate proper policies concerning the development of alternate energy sector it is essential to evaluate and prioritize the renewable technologies. In the present paper the aforementioned issue of evaluation and prioritization of renewable technologies has been addressed using AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) with the aim that the financial, technical, societal and environmental aspects are not compromised. Six alternatives (namely solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, ocean and hydel energies) have been prioritized. It has been concluded that to get around the crises of domestic electricity shortfall the choice of solar energy technology is the best among the alternatives highlighted above, followed by wind and biomass. With reference priority of the choice of alternate energy it is also emphasized that the financial aspect must be the decisive factor.