Improving the Framework for Energy Policy to Harness Renewable Energy Resources for Sustainable Development in Developing Countries

Abstract

Energy usage has been rising around the globe as a result of economic growth in the last decade. The selection of acceptable Renewable Energy Sources (RES) for energy supply and the evaluation of different RES technologies are complicated decision-making processes in sustainable energy planning. However, finding alternative energy supplies is difficult owing to limited nonrenewable resources such as oil, gas, and coal. Furthermore, past studies employed multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) procedures, which were effective with quantitative data but not qualitative data. This paper provides a systematic decision support framework for policymakers based on multi-criteria decision making by combining Benefit, Opportunity, Cost, and Risk (BOCR) model with the Analytic Network Process (ANP). Since fossil fuel prices are not constant and continue to rise, the governments in developing countries must develop an energy mix based on various resources other than conventional fuels. More efficiently harnessed local and sustainable energy alternatives may help solve climatic and economic problems in fossil-fuel-producing nations. However, it would require adjustments to national energy policy to properly include renewable energy alternatives in energy planning. This proposed study will underwrite significantly to understand better a systematic decision support system using MCDM. In addition, this study can also succour the government in planning and assisting the government and policymakers in selecting the adequate RES supply for the country.