Abstract
The paper proposes a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework for a comparative evaluation of nuclear waste management strategies taking into account different local perspectives (expert and stakeholder opinions). Of note, a novel approach is taken using a multiple-criteria formulation that is methodologically adapted to tackle various conflicting criteria and a large number of expert/stakeholder groups involved in the decision-making process. The purpose is to develop a framework and to show its application to qualitative comparison and ranking of options in a hypothetical case of three waste management alternatives: interim storage at and/or away from the reactor site for the next 100 years, interim decay storage followed in midterm by disposal in a national repository, and disposal in a multinational repository. Additionally, major aspects of a decision-making aid are identified and discussed in separate paper sections dedicated to application context, decision supporting process, in particular problem structuring, objective hierarchy, performance evaluation modeling, sensitivity/robustness analyses, and interpretation of results (practical impact). The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the application of the MCDA framework developed to a generic hypothetical case and indicate how MCDA could support a decision on nuclear waste management policies in a “small” newcomer country embarking on nuclear technology in the future.
Highlights
Nuclear power plants operate in 31 countries around the world
As a decision support a multiple-criteria decision-making framework is recommended to be applied when a large number of conflicting criteria and a large number of stakeholders are going to be involved
multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) is able to support the comparative evaluation of options in the field of nuclear waste management strategy
Summary
Nuclear power plants operate in 31 countries around the world. According to today’s estimates, over 45 further countries consider embarking upon nuclear power programs in the future. Nuclear power production is the only large-scale energy-generating technology which assumes full responsibility for all its waste forms with the provision made for including a priori the waste management costs into the total final electricity price. A suitable multicriteria method has to be selected that is adequate for making comparative judgements about the attractiveness of chosen alternatives on the basis of their performance indicator values on defined criteria [22]. In this process, conflicting criteria are often involved implying that an improvement in the indicator value on one criterion entails performance deterioration of an option on other criteria. A crucial step in the decision aiding-process is the aggregation of the judgements about the alternatives’ performances on each criterion which should faithfully model the overall preferences of both stakeholders and technical experts [21, 23, 24]
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