A Data-Driven Decision Support System for Wave Power Plant Location Selection

Vietnam has a coastline of over 3260 km and an exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles, providing favorable conditions for the development of wave energy. Exploring and harnessing this endless energy source to maximize the use of the available resources is essential for sustainable economic development. According to research conducted by the Institute of Marine and Island Research, the total global exploitable wave energy capacity is 212 TWh per year, accounting for nearly 1% of the global total and 90% of Vietnam’s annual electricity consumption needs. However, selecting the optimal location to construct wave energy production plants requires the consideration of various criteria, including efficiency potential, economic and social, technological, transport and environment factors. In this research, the authors propose a hybrid MCDM model including a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and Interactive Multi-Criteria Decision-Making method (TODIM) under a fuzzy environment for wave power plant location selection in Vietnam. A real-world application of the approach is given to showcase the effectiveness of the proposed method, where three potential locations are assessed based on 14 criteria. The research results propose priority locations for project implementation, while providing a scientific basis for policymakers and investors in the decision-making process. This study contributes to promoting the development of renewable energy and efficiently utilizing Vietnam’s marine resources.