Appraising Bioenergy Alternatives in Uganda Using Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)-Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a Desirability Functions Approach

Poor access to clean and reliable energy technologies is a major challenge to most developing countries. The decision to introduce new technologies is often faced by low adoption rates or even public opposition. In addition, the data required for effective decision making is often inadequate or even...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energies (Basel) 2014, Vol.7 (3), p.1171-1192
Main Authors: Okello, Collins, Pindozzi, Stefania, Faugno, Salvatore, Boccia, Lorenzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agriculture
analytic hierarchy process
Appraisals
bioenergy technologies
Biomass energy
Constraining
Decision making
developing countries
Hierarchies
Methodology
multi-criteria analysis
participatory appraisal
Renewable energy
Screening
Strength
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Summary:Poor access to clean and reliable energy technologies is a major challenge to most developing countries. The decision to introduce new technologies is often faced by low adoption rates or even public opposition. In addition, the data required for effective decision making is often inadequate or even lacking, thus constraining the planning process. In this study, a methodology for participatory appraisal of technologies, integrating desirability functions to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)-analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology was developed. Application of the methodology was illustrated with an example for participatory appraisal of four bioenergy technologies in Uganda. Results showed that the methodology is effective in evaluating stakeholder preferences for bioenergy technologies. It showed a high potential to be used to identify and rate factors that stakeholders take into consideration when selecting bioenergy systems. The method could be used as a tool for technology screening, or reaching consensus in a participatory setup in a transparent manner.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en7031171