Renewable Energy Power Rankings: A Fresh Look

India's rapidly growing population and urbanization are driving up energy demand. Traditional energy sources are lagging behind, making renewable energy sources (RES) a crucial focus for sustainability and climate change management. India is blessed with diverse RES like solar, geothermal, hydro, biomass, wave, onshore, and offshore wind energy. This study takes a closer look at these energy sources using a combined method of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy AHP). The analysis considers four main factors: technical, economic, environmental, and socio-political aspects, supported by 19 criteria. Before diving in, the study transforms undesirable environmental criteria into desirable ones using the Modified Ratio model.

DEA initially calculates the efficiency scores for each RES under each category. Fuzzy AHP then assigns weights to these categories. Combining these weights with the initial efficiency scores, the study determines the overall efficiency scores and rankings of the RES. Sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of the results. Interestingly, offshore wind leads the pack in efficiency, followed by hydro and onshore wind, while geothermal energy ranks the lowest. This method can be a game-changer for developing countries, guiding policymakers in adopting renewable energy sources effectively.

Actions