Sensitivity analysis of technological, economic and sustainability evaluation of power plants using the analytic hierarchy process

Technological, economic and sustainability evaluation of power plants by use of the analytic hierarchy process and nine end node criteria for a reference scenario based on subjective criteria weighting has been presented in a previous paper by authors. However, criteria weight variations may substantially modify overall evaluations and rankings of power plants. The current paper presents a sensitivity analysis with four alternative scenarios (sets of criteria weights) compared with the reference scenario. The results show that priority to technology and sustainability favors renewable energy power plants, while priority to economic criteria favors mainly nuclear power plants and less the four types of fossil fuel power plant. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.