Selection of Biomass Resources with Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods: Alternatives for Sustainable Energy Production

Gülay Demir

doi:10.31181/jopi31202537

Authors

Gülay Demir High School of Health Vocational Services, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3916-7639

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31181/jopi31202537

Keywords:

Biomass resources, Fuzzy set, WENSLO, RAWEC, Sustainability, Renewable energy, Decision-making, Aggregation operator

Abstract

Selecting the most sustainable and efficient biomass resource for energy production requires a strategic multi-criteria decision-making approach. This study evaluates four biomass alternatives—plant-based, forest/wood-based, animal-based, and urban/industrial waste biomass—across economic, environmental, technical, and social dimensions, using twelve sub-criteria. The Fuzzy Bonferroni Aggregation Operator consolidated data, while the Fuzzy Weight by Envelope and Slope (F-WENSLO) method prioritized main and sub-criteria, and the Fuzzy Ranking Alternatives with Weights of Criterion (F-RAWEC) method ranked alternatives. Results identified animal-based biomass (Qᵢ = 1.1228) as the optimal choice due to its superior energy efficiency and economic benefits, followed by plant-based (Qᵢ = 1.0989), forest/wood-based (Qᵢ = 1.0919), and urban/industrial waste biomass (Qᵢ = 1.0848). The latter’s low ranking reflects environmental and compatibility challenges. The study underscores the need for holistic biomass selection, balancing economic, technical, environmental, and social factors to inform sustainable energy policies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. (2025). Renewable energy sources: Biomass. https://enerji.gov.tr/eigm-yenilenebilir-enerji-kaynaklar-biyokutle

Eling, J., Okot, D. K., Menya, E., & Atim, M. R. (2024). Densification of raw and torrefied biomass: A review. Biomass and Bioenergy, 184, 107210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2024.107210

Obiora, N. K., Ujah, C. O., Asadu, C. O., Kolawole, F. O., & Ekwueme, B. N. (2024). Production of hydrogen energy from biomass: Prospects and challenges. Green Technologies and Sustainability, 2(1), 100100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.grets.2024.100100

Yang, D., Li, S., & He, S. (2024). Zero/negative carbon emission coal and biomass staged co-gasification power generation system via biomass heating. Applied Energy, 357, 122469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122469

Kumar, R., & Pamucar, D. (2025). A comprehensive and systematic review of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to solve decision-making problems: Two decades from 2004 to 2024. Spectrum of Decision Making and Applications, 2(1), 178–197. https://doi.org/10.31181/sdmap21202524

Deveci, M., Gokasar, I., Chen, Y., Wang, W., Karaismailoğlu, A. E., & Antucheviciene, J. (2025). Analysis of green energy in sustainable transportation in developing nations through a decision support model. Renewable Energy, 220, 122643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.122643

Seifi, N., Ghoodjani, E., Majd, S. S., Maleki, A., & Khamoushi, S. (2025). Evaluation and prioritization of artificial intelligence integrated blockchain factors in healthcare supply chain: A hybrid decision-making approach. Computer and Decision Making: An International Journal, 2, 374–405. https://doi.org/10.59543/comdem.v2i.11029

Demir, G., & Pamučar, D. (2025). Strategic evaluation of sustainable communication technologies: A fuzzy additive weights and interval-based ranking framework. Spectrum of Operational Research, 2(1), 285–304. https://doi.org/10.31181/sor21202529

Lo, H.-W., Chen, W.-Y., & Lin, S.-W. (2025). Using Bayesian BWM to analyze elevator performance requirements for collaborative product innovation design. Journal of Intelligent Decision Making and Information Science, 2, 218–232. https://doi.org/10.59543/jidmis.v2i.11503

Dovichi Filho, F. B., de Sousa, L. V. M., Lora, E. E. S., Palacio, J. C. E., Borges, P. T., Barros, R. M., Jaen, R. L., Errera, M. R., & Quintero, Q. R. (2025). A methodology for the feasibility assessment of using crop residues for electricity production through GIS-MCD and its application in a case study. Agriculture, 15(3), 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15030334

Deb, A., Mandal, S. K., & Ghatak, M. D. (2025). An MCDM approach for selection of a biomass fuel for a natural convection dryer based on thermo-economic-environmental analysis. Engineering Research Express, 7(1), 015505. https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-8695/ada224

Boonman, A., Fukuda, S., Tiwari, S., & Kraxner, F. (2025). Two-phase approach for designing sustainable biomass supply chains for community-scale biomass power plants in Thailand. Energies, 18(3), 520. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18030520

Fang, Z., Wang, M., Ji, L., Xie, Y., & Zhen, J. (2025). Multi-objective inexact optimization of the biomass supply chain from an energy-land-carbon nexus perspective. Energy Nexus, 17, 100358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexus.2024.100358

Van Dua, T. (2025). Application of the PSI method in selecting sustainable energy development technologies. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 15(1), 19596–19601. https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.9317

Murtaja, M., Bajpai, S., & Sharma, M. K. (2025). Optimal renewable energy sources selection using multicriteria decision making-TOPSIS approach in Indian condition. Indian Chemical Engineer. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00194506.2025.2454254

Zadeh, L. A. (1965). Fuzzy sets. Information and Control, 8(3), 338–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0019-9958(65)90241-X

Pamučar, D., Žižović, M., Biswas, S., & Božanić, D. (2021). A new logarithm methodology of additive weights (LMAW) for multi-criteria decision-making: Application in logistics. Facta Universitatis, Series: Mechanical Engineering, 19(3), 361–380. https://doi.org/10.22190/FUME210214031P

Pamučar, D., Ecer, F., Gligoric, Z., Gligoric, M., & Deveci, M. (2024). A novel WENSLO and ALWAS multicriteria methodology and its application to green growth performance evaluation. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 9510–9525. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3321697

Božanić, D., Pamučar, D., Milić, A., Marinković, D., & Komazec, N. (2022). Modification of the logarithm methodology of additive weights (LMAW) by a triangular fuzzy number and its application in multi-criteria decision making. Axioms, 11(3), 89. https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms11030089

Puška, A., Štilić, A., Pamučar, D., Božanić, D., & Nedeljković, M. (2024). Introducing a novel multi-criteria ranking of alternatives with weights of criterion (RAWEC) model. MethodsX, 12, 102628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2024.102628