Energy Sources, Vol.17, No.5, 565-581, 1995
INCORPORATING QUALITATIVE OBJECTIVES IN INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANNING - APPLICATION OF ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS AND COMPROMISE PROGRAMMING
This article proposes a multiobjective methodology for the integrated resource planning (IRP) problem using a combined analytic hierarchy process (AHP)compromise programming (CP) model. Six objectives, of which jive are qualitative in nature, have been considered to select demand- and supply-side resources for meeting future electricity demand The quantitative objective (viz., cost) is employed directly in the CP model. AHP priorities are derived for the qualitative objectives (e.g., technological maturity) after eliciting expert judgements. These priorities are employed as coefficients of the decision variables in the objective functions corresponding to the qualitative objectives of the model. The two distinct advantages of this method are (1) explicit consideration of all important qualitative and quantitive aspects of demand-side management (DSM) and supply-side options and (2) consideration of specific characteristics of various types of DSM options. An illustrative application is provided for an Indian utility (Maharashtra State Electricity System) for its integrated resource plan for the period 1990-2000. The results show that the AHP-CP model incorporating qualitative objectives selects a different portfolio of DSM and supply options, as compared with single-criterion solutions. Compromise among the conflicting objectives leads to significant cost savings as well as qualitative benefits like improved system reliability, reduced environmental impact, fewer problems related to fuel supply, and shorter project installation times.