Design of a decision support system for site selection using fuzzy AHP: A case study of solar power plant in north eastern parts of Thailand

The objectives of this research are to propose the new guideline to identify potential solar power plant and to develop a decision support system for solar power plant site selection. The method is intended to combine both qualitative and quantitative variables based upon environmental friendly in life cycle thinking which Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) model is applied. This approach is used to consolidate the environmental aspects as well as social needs in electrical demand systematically. According to the case study of a solar power plant site selection in Thailand, it has shown that a number of quantitative and qualitative criteria are needed to be realized before it can be analyzed in the Fuzzy AHP model. The contribution of this research lies in the development of a new approach that is flexible and applicable to the decision maker, in guiding for solar power plant site selection under stakeholder needs based upon quantitative and qualitative criteria while achieving desirable functions and minimizing cost, time and environmental impact. The advantage of this research is that a decision maker can be able to optimize functional criteria and able to give the significant weight priority as needed.