Sustainable solar energy in urban areas: A novel framework for uncertainty, reliability, and 7E analysis

Abstract

Nowadays, access to clean, reliable, and sustainable energy is essential for urban cities. Solar energy, a widely available renewable energy source (RES), is present in abundance throughout the world. Nonetheless, using this energy has challenges such as uncertainty and reliability. The present study proposes a novel two phase framework based on a multi-criteria analysis of solar plants in urban cities in terms of uncertainty and reliability to address this issue. In phase-1, solar plants were evaluated using multi criteria decision-making from technical, economic, environmental, social, political, and risk aspects based on Z-number theory. Different methods such as Z-EDAS, Z-TOPSIS, Z-ARAS, Z-COPRAS, Z-SAW, and Z-MABAC were used for robust assessment. In phase-2, a 10 MW solar plant was examined from seven indicators (energy, exergy, economic, environmental, energoeconomic, exergoeconomic, and enviroeconomic as 7E analysis). The 7E analysis showed the solar photovoltaic plant can generate annually 12.3 GWh of electricity, with an energy and exergy efficiency of 13.85 % and 14.9 %, respectively. Additionally, the Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was 57$/MWh. Furthermore, the proposed framework based on Z-number theory effectively consider uncertainty and reliability in solar site assessment in urban cities and can be used in future studies for RES and sustainable urban planning.