Tidal power plant location selection based on multi-criteria group decision-making process: (A case study for southern coasts of Iran)

Currently, there are no tidal power plants in Iran, although conditions are good for tidal power generation in the southern coasts of the country. Several tidal power plants can be installed in these regions which can provide locally needed electricity or to be fed to local grids. The location selection for tidal power plant is a key strategic decision, which has significant impact on economic operation of the power plant and sustainable development of the region. Further, the location selection is an inherently complex multi-criteria group decision-making problem involving several conflicting criteria on which decision maker’s knowledge is usually vague and imprecise. It is generally hard to find a location that meets all the evaluation criteria simultaneously, so a good compromise solution is preferred. To deal with the problem, this paper proposes a rational and systematic multi-criteria group decision-making method that combines The Compromise Ranking method, also known as the VIKOR method, and fuzzy logic. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated by a real-world case study of tidal current power plant location selection in Iran. The alternatives of this study area are Khowr-e Musa Bay, Bushehr Bay, Qeshm Canal, Chahbahar Bay. According to the final score, the first alternative, Khowr-e Musa Bay, is the most suitable location for setting up tidal stream power plant.