Sustainability and CDM potential analysis of a novel vs conventional bioenergy projects in South Asia by multi-criteria decision-making method

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 27; no. 18; pp. 23081 - 23093
• Main Authors: Rasheed, Rizwan, Javed, Hajra, Rizwan, Asfra, Yasar, Abdullah, Tabinda, Amtul Bari, Mahfooz, Yusra, Wang, Yubo, Su, Yuehong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-06-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Coastal environments; Contamination; Data processing; Decision making; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Emissions control; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Feeders; Filter feeders; LDCs; Marine organisms; Mollusks; Multiple criteria decision making; Mussels; Mytilus edulis; Potassium hydroxide; Potassium hydroxides; Research Article; Sedimentation; Soft tissues; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Sustainable energy; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; South Asia; Clean energy, cleaner development; Carbon trading; Bioenergy; Sustainable energy; Sustainability; Pollution prevention
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-08862-6

In this study, the multi-attribute utility theory model, one of the most widely utilized multi-criteria decision-making methods, is employed to analyze the relative sustainability and cleaner development mechanism (CDM) potential of a novel bioenergy project in Pakistan and four registered CDM bioenergy installations in China, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Four major sustainability evaluation criteria selected for the study are technology, economy, environment, and social aspects, whereas “simple multi-attribute rating technique” (SMART) and “additive synthesis method” were utilized for the calculation of weighting factors. The most significant indicator was emission reduction, and least significant indicator was job creation with 24% and 15% respective weightages, in the sustainability scoring. Moreover, for three considered evaluation scenarios, (I) base case, (II) per kilowatt, and (III) per kilowatt hour, the bioenergy project in Pakistan has the highest comparative sustainability values of 0.735, 0.592, and 0.492 respectively. This analysis will provide an insight assistance to developing countries for establishing sustainable energy installations under CDM.