Decision-making for energy systems
The EC-funded SAPIENTIA project aimed to explore the links between technology dynamics, R&D activities and technological developments. The main focus was placed on energy system analysis and medium-and longer-term technology prospects in the field of energy generation. The Dutch-based Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands devised methods for Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in this area. MCDA essentially represents a structured approach to decision-making based on a subjective classification of all alternatives. The steps that formed the backbone of this approach were: the definition of criteria and a comprehensive literature study on available MCDA implementation texts. Defining the criteria that would be used for the final decision in terms of technology suitability is a very important aspect of this approach. Furthermore, the literature survey that was carried out yielded interesting results in terms of other analytical methods that have been used in energy policy-making in the past. The application of MCDA can be very beneficial given that it takes into account a variety of factors, therefore leading to more informed decisions. Researchers are keen to form links with interested parties and stakeholders in order to develop this line of investigation. The end result could be a versatile tool suitable for use by policy-makers and industrial actors active in the area of energy system analysis.
