Using Multicriteria Decision Making to Evaluate the Risk of Hydrogen Energy Storage and Transportation in Cities

Abstract

Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly source of renewable energy. Energy generation from hydrogen has not yet been widely commercialized due to issues related to risk management in its storage and transportation. In this paper, the authors propose a hybrid multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM)-based method to manage the risks involved in the storage and transportation of hydrogen (RSTH). First, we identified the key points of the RSTH by examining the relevant literature and soliciting the opinions of experts and used this to build a prototype of its decision structure. Second, we developed a hybrid MCDM approach, called the D-ANP, that combined the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMENTEL) with the analytic network process (ANP) to obtain the weight of each point of risk. Third, we used fuzzy evaluation to assess the level of the RSTH for Beijing, China, where energy generation using hydrogen is rapidly advancing. The results showed that the skills of the personnel constituted the most important risk-related factor, and environmental volatility and the effectiveness of feedback were root factors. These three factors had an important impact on other factors influencing the risk of energy generation from hydrogen. Training and technical assistance can be used to mitigate the risks arising due to differences in the skills of personnel. An appropriate logistics network and segmented transportation for energy derived from hydrogen should be implemented to reduce environmental volatility, and integrated supply chain management can help make the relevant feedback more effective.