Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Hydrogen Storage Technologies Using AHP and TOPSIS Methodologies

As hydrogen emerges as a key vector in the shift toward cleaner energy systems, the evaluation of storage technologies becomes essential to support its integration across diverse applications. This work provides a comparative analysis of four hydrogen storage methods, compressed gas, metal hydrides, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), and carbon-based materials, using a structured multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The evaluation is based on a comprehensive set of technical, economic, and environmental criteria, including safety, storage capacity, efficiency, cycle durability, technological maturity, environmental impact, cost, and scalability. The analysis adopts a technology-oriented perspective, focusing on the intrinsic performance and feasibility of hydrogen storage systems rather than on a detailed techno-economic optimization. The results show that metal hydrides offer the most balanced performance, driven by high volumetric capacity and solid-phase stability, followed closely by compressed hydrogen, which stands out for its technological maturity and well-established infrastructure, despite facing significant challenges related to safety and space efficiency due to high-pressure storage requirements. Carbon-based materials and MOFs, although promising in specific aspects such as safety, storage density, or material sustainability, are hindered by technological immaturity and operational limitations.