Prioritisation for electric utility expansion scenarios in Maharashtra, India, using analytical hierarchical approach

Maharashtra is the second-largest and prominent state in India with an industrial and service sector economy consuming 12% of India's electricity.This paper forecasts electricity demand for 2030 using Long Range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) and generates seven electricity scenarios.The study utilises the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) algorithm for priority setting, employing a three-level hierarchical structure.Scenarios are ranked based on four main criteria and 25 sub-criteria, incorporating inputs from three stakeholder groups: electricity planners, utility officers and end users.The preferred scenario is Business as Usual (BAU), followed by the Energy Conservation (EC) scenario.Sensitivity analysis studies explore future implications for the identified scenarios.While the Least Cost Scenario (LCS) and Zero Emission Scenario (ZES) are highly desirable, the addition of significant infrastructure remains a concern for these scenarios.