Assessing the Environmental Impact Caused by Power Grid Projects in High Altitude Areas Based on BWM and Vague Sets Techniques

Yuanxin Liu,Jiahai Yuan,Yuwei Wang,Yi Wang,Xinhua Yu,Fengyun Li

doi:10.3390/su10061768

Abstract

This study constructed a hybrid model for assessing the environmental impact caused by power grid projects (PGP) in high altitude area (HAA). Firstly, this study analyzed the characteristics of the environment in HAA and the possible environmental impacts caused by the PGP in HAA. On this basis, an evaluation indicator system reflecting the particularity of HAA was established, including three perspectives named natural, social and ecological environment. Next, considering the availability of evaluation index data and the scarcity of evaluation samples, the best and worst method (BWM) was employed to obtain the objective and credible indicator weights. Furthermore, the Vague set theory was introduced into the comprehensive evaluation model, overcoming the shortcomings of comprehensive evaluation model based on fuzzy sets. Finally, the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model was validated via a practical PGP in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Overall, the results of this paper can play an important supporting role in promoting green construction and sustainable development of PGP. Besides, the proposed hybrid evaluation framework requires fewer index values and evaluation samples, having good applicability and promotion value in handling the evaluation issues with uncertain and incomplete information.

Highlights

With the continuous development of society and economy, people have deeply realized the importance of the environment and paid more attention to environmental protection
Environmental impact assessment is an important part of the environmental protection of power grid projects (PGP) and the prerequisite for the subsequent environmental protection work
High-altitude areas are the key and difficult areas for China’s power grid construction, having unique natural, social and ecological environments, making assessing the environmental impact caused by the PGP in these areas be of great theoretical and practical significance

Summary

Introduction

With the continuous development of society and economy, people have deeply realized the importance of the environment and paid more attention to environmental protection. Environmental protection includes protecting the natural environment and preventing and controlling pollution and other public hazards [1]. That is, when making better use of resources, people have to apply modern scientific environmental theories and methods to further understand the causes and harms of the pollution and destruction to environment and protect the environment in a planned way, which helps to promote the sustainable development of mankind and the environment [2]. China’s power industry paid great attention to the environmental protection in power grids construction [3]. China has included the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of PGP in environmental protection laws and regulations, making the environmental protection of PGP legal [7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion