Evaluation of Renewable Energy Sources for Denizli Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods

Abstract

In this study, multi-criteria decision-making methods were applied to determine the priorities of renewable energy sources for Denizli. While most analyses about renewable energy sources for Turkey have focused on a national level or broader geographical areas, in this study, it is aimed to provide a detailed analysis for renewable energy potential for Denizli considering its geographical location, climate characteristics, and geological structure. Hybrid AHP-ARAS and SWARA-TOPSIS methods were used to evaluate and rank renewable energy sources based on economic, technical, environmental, and socio-political criteria. As a result, the most suitable renewable energy sources for Denizli were determined in the following order: solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric energy. In addition, sensitivity analyses were carried out to assess risks in energy investments in the province. Hence, it is believed that the findings of this study have potential to contribute to decision-making and strategic planning processes for sustainable energy management in Denizli.