Application of TOPSIS Approach to Multi-Criteria Selection of Wind Turbines for On-Shore Sites

Shafiqur Rehman,Salman A Khan,Luai M Alhems

doi:10.3390/app10217595

Abstract

The remarkable developments in renewable energy at the global scale have paved the way for a sustainable future and cleaner environment. As a fundamental element of this renewable energy revolution, wind energy has received tremendous attention worldwide. In order to harness maximal energy from a wind farm, one crucial decision is the selection of a turbine that is most compatible with the geographical and topographical characteristics of the location under consideration. This selection mechanism ideally considers multiple conflicting decision criteria—i.e., an improvement in one criterion negatively impacts one or more other criteria. Therefore, a tradeoff solution is desired in which the selection criteria are simultaneously optimized to the best achievable limits. Considering the above observations, this paper proposes a TOPSIS (the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution)-based wind turbine selection approach. The problem is modeled as a multi-criteria decision problem while considering hub height, wind speed, percentages of zero and rated output, and annual energy production as the decision criteria. A case study is shown for data collected from two potential sites in northern and north-western Saudi Arabia. Fifteen turbines with rated capacities ranging from 1.5 to 3 MW from various manufacturers were evaluated. Results indicate that the TOPSIS approach was effective in identifying the best turbines for each site. Furthermore, the proposed approach helped in identifying the similarities in the behavior of turbines for the two sites. A comparison of the TOPSIS approach with other multi-criteria decision-making techniques proved the robustness of the method.

Highlights

The need for energy has been a fundamental requirement for mankind
Empirical research was carried out; real data were collected from two potential and geographically diverse sites in Saudi Arabia. These two sites are Turaif and Wejh. The former is located in the northern part of Saudi Arabia, while the latter is in the north-western part of the country
Such a selection process demands that a simple and computationally efficient multi-criteria selection technique is employed that would effectively incorporate the requirements of these different selection criteria in the decision process

Summary

Introduction

The need for energy has been a fundamental requirement for mankind. From the stone age to the present era, human beings have used energy in various forms [1]. The requirement for energy has especially become vital for survival of mankind in present times due to immense industrial developments and technology-infused lifestyles. For the past one hundred years, fossil fuels have catered to the energy requirements of the world. The use of these fossil fuels came with a price in terms of environmental deterioration. The extraction and refining of these fossil fuels is a highly expensive process. The fluctuating oil prices create uncertainty in the world economy

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Discussion

Conclusion