Hybrid IT2 fuzzy modelling with alpha cuts for hydrogen energy investments

Abstract

The framework of this study is to weight 8 selected determinants and rank energy alternatives for hydrogen investments. For this purpose, different criteria that are based on two dimensions are identified with supported literature and interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) with alpha cuts is considered to measure the significant criteria. Additionally, renewable and non-renewable energy alternatives are ranked regarding the appropriateness for hydrogen energy investments with the help of IT2 fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and IT2 fuzzy Vlse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) with alpha cuts. It is concluded that the weights of the criteria are quite similar for different alpha cuts. Also, ranking results of different energy alternatives are almost the same for both IT2 fuzzy TOPSIS and IT2 fuzzy VIKOR. Thus, it can be concluded that the analysis results are reliable and coherent. The principal results indicate that cost-efficiency and reserve adequacy play a key role in hydrogen investments since they have the highest weight (0.129). Moreover, it is also found that technological capacity also plays a critical role in this regard with the weight of 0.127. However, legal regulation has the lowest importance weight (0.121) in comparison with other factors. Additionally, the weights of personnel competency (criterion 3) and storage (criterion 4) are also low (0.122). The major conclusion show that renewable energy alternatives are more suitable to generate hydrogen energy in comparison with non-renewable ones. Within this context, it is identified that solar and geothermal energies are more appropriate alternatives for hydrogen production whereas coal and nuclear are on the last rank. Hence, the main strategy should be lowering the costs by following up-to-date technological developments. Another important issue is that it becomes more logical to produce hydrogen in renewable energy sources that will not be consumed forever so that sustainable production of the hydrogen can be provided.