Conference Agenda

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) represents a crucial approach to decision-making, offering systematically structured methods for addressing complex issues across various contexts. However, the practical application of MCDA is often hindered by the specialized nature of existing software so-lutions tailored to specific MCDA methods. While these tools are beneficial in providing detailed procedural guidance, they can introduce inefficiencies for experienced practitioners and require additional learning for new users. Recognizing these challenges, this study presents the MCDA Calculator web tool, a decision support system (DSS) designed to fill current MCDA applica-tion software gaps. Our tool integrates various MCDA methodologies into a single, intuitive platform, minimizing the need to switch between different software and reducing the learning curve associated with each. By providing a streamlined calculation structure that accommodates multiple MCDA methodologies within a consistent process flow, the MCDA Calculator en-hances usability for practitioners. This is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of decision-making processes and to facilitate a more ho-listic and flexible approach to the application of MCDA.

Energy system models are key tools to support decision-making for the energy transition. Traditionally, they focus on the techno-economic sphere by generating the least-cost solution that satisfies demand and meets technical requirements. This approach neglects that a variety of decision-makers and stakeholders are involved in the energy transition, each of whom has multiple and potentially conflicting interests. Considering multiple decision criteria in energy system models can address this shortcoming and provide improved decision support.

We identify five multi-criteria approaches used in in energy system optimisation models: pure ex-post evaluation, simple constraints, monetisation, modelling to generate alternatives and multi-objective optimisation. We present mathematical formulations and selected case studies for each of the five approaches. Finally, we synthesise requirements, strengths and limitations of the approaches and point towards promising directions for future work.

The global energy transition requires a high share of intermittent renewable energy in many countries, which poses a challenge to energy supply and system reliability. There are different strategies to mitigate these fluctuations, among which large-scale deployment of energy storage plays a crucial role. In addition to the technical challenge, these transitions involve different types of conflicts, such as resource criticality and climate objectives. Decision-making in this context involves different sectors of society with different priorities and requires a tool such as Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to facilitate communication between citizens, decision-makers and technology developers. Methods such as mediated modelling techniques, decision conferences and decision analysis interviews are some of the existing approaches used in participatory MCDA. Despite their successful description and application, analysts agree on the barriers to further application of these participatory formats: the need for significant effort and resources to implement them. This research aims to develop and implement an interactive decision support tool (software) to facilitate the integration of stakeholders in MCDA for sustainability assessment. Through real-time interaction of stakeholder preferences with the MCDA model, this work aims to accelerate and support transparent decision-making processes. Based on the selection requirements of the MCDA method for sustainability assessment, the ELECTRE III method is used to model the decision problem. This paper presents the developed interactive decision support tool and its application in the EU project StoRIES for MCDA sustainability assessment of energy storage.

Water and energy are resources that play a crucial role in the functioning of societies. However, the demand for water and energy is increasing rapidly due to population growth and economic development, leading to challenges in supply and allocation under increasing scarcity. To add, the water and energy sector are interrelated in many processes. The water-energy nexus refers to these interrelations of the water and energy sector.

Strategic decision making in the water-energy nexus can be complex and subject to uncertainty, since there may be trade-offs or conflicting goals that need to be balanced and multiple, interrelated factors that need to be considered when evaluating the consequences of decisions. The methods of multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) provide a systematic, structured approach to evaluate and compare alternative options based on multiple objectives and can facilitate well-informed decisions. Furthermore, MCDA methods allow for the explicit consideration of multiple stakeholders and provide means for consensus facilitation.

We present a framework based on system dynamics and the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) for strategic decision-making in the water-energy nexus to address interrelationships of the water-energy nexus in the assessment of alternatives. Qualitative system dynamic approaches are applied to reveal interdependencies. A case study for water resources management in the Middle East illustrates how the framework can enable a prospective assessment of technical solutions in the water-energy nexus.