A strategic framework for sustainable and renewable energy development: small-scale building solar power plants in Iran

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 30; no. 13; pp. 37805 - 37820
• Main Authors: Boostani, Abtin, Farzi, Abolfazl, Maghsoodi, Reza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Iran; Power Plants; Renewable Energy; Research Article; Solar Energy; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Iran; Strategic planning; Sustainable and renewable energy; Best–worst method; Building solar power plant; SWOT analysis
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24906-5

In Iran, the comprehensive environmental analysis for the strategic planning of small-scale building solar power plant (SBSPP) development is a necessary activity to achieve more renewable energy. This study performed a strength-weakness-opportunity-threat (SWOT factor-based) analysis: (i) the identification and validation of factors by the fuzzy Delphi technique; (ii) the priority assessment using the fuzzy best–worst method; and (iii) the proposal of development strategies for SBSPPs. The results identified the factors of nine strengths, eight weaknesses, nine opportunities, and eight threats. The results of prioritization of the SWOT factors showed that the importance of O ( w  = 0.295) and W ( w  = 0.283) groups are higher than T ( w  = 0.232) and S ( w  = 0.190) groups. After prioritizing all factors, W2, O4, and T6 factors were ranked first to third with weights equal to 0.095, 0.075, and 0.047, respectively. Also, the share of W, O, T, and S groups in the first half of the ranking list of all factors were 75%, 56%, 50%, and 22% of the factors of these groups, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that in selecting appropriate strategies for the future development of SBSPPs in Iran, WO strategies should be prioritized; strategies that use the opportunities available in the external environment to improve and eliminate weaknesses within the system.