Application of multi-criteria decision-making for seawater desalination: A review

Seawater desalination is one of the most important alternatives for freshwater supply. Several technologies have been proposed to produce freshwater. Ranking, identifying, and selecting the most appropriate system and location for the desalination process among multiple options is challenging due to the advantages and disadvantages of each system. Mult-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods address this challenge by integrating economic, technical, environmental, and social criteria. This paper aims to review the scientific literature that has applied MCDM as a key tool to evaluate the alternatives. The results of the conducted research are categorized according to their primary objectives, and the criteria on which the evaluation was based are discussed. The paper also aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the MCDM methods used and to distinguish the main limitations of these methods in evaluating technologies and selecting desalination plant locations. The findings of this review indicate that the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the most commonly employed method for assigning weights to the criteria, while the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method is then used to rank the alternatives. Finally, this review highlights that identifying the best alternative is challenging due to the subjective nature of decision-making processes, which can result in varying rankings based on specific goals, available data, and expert judgments. • The application of MCDM in seawater desalination is systematically reviewed. • The MCDM methods commonly used in the desalination field are described. • The criteria already considered are identified and categorized into four dimensions. • This review paper would serve as a guide for future studies.