The Location of Thermal Power Plants by Using an Integrated Models of AHP and TOPSIS

Selecting optimal location of gas power plants is one of challenging issues in the environmental assessment of development projects. This article aimed to study the optimal location for the construction of a thermal power plant in Sirjan, Iran based in environmental criteria using an integrated method (AHP1 and TOPSIS2). In this research, we studied the certain regional features. Delphi was used to identify the environment, power plant-related parameters affecting the location process. AHP was employed to prioritize and determine the weights of criteria and sub-criteria in Expert Choice. Then, TOPSIS and prioritized criteria by AHP were employed to form the decision matrix for 6 sites based on 13 macro indices and 36 sub-criteria. In this study, combined components were taken into account including power plant factors; environmental, physical, and biological factors, technical-economic factor, and background contamination. The results showed that Technical-Economic Factor with the weight of 0.4830 was prioritized first followed by Physical and Biological Index with weights of 0.272 and 0.157, respectively. Then, expert judgments were used in TOPSIS decision-making process in order to form the initial matrix. Once this stage was complete, the matrices were weighted using the weights of criteria. The distance of each option was estimated from the Positive Ideal Solution and Negative Ideal Solution. Accordingly, Closeness Coefficient was calculated. Eventually, the best site scenario was determined. Among the six proposed sites, Site II was found to be the best option in terms of environmental, economic, and technical factors.