Title: Environmental and technical evaluation of the use of alternative fuels through multi-criteria analysis model

Authors: Antonis A. Zorpas; Diana Mihaela Pociovălişteanu; Lydia Georgiadou; Irene Voukkali

Addresses: Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management, Cyprus Open University, P.O. Box 12794, 2252, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus ' Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, "Constantin Brancusi" University of Targu-Jiu, Eroilor Street, No. 30, Targu-Jiu, Gorj 210135, Romania ' Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management, Cyprus Open University, P.O. Box 12794, 2252, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus ' Institute of Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development, IETS, P.O. Box 34073, 5309, Paralimni, Cyprus

Abstract: The current way in which the fossil natural resources are consumed as energy resources does not reflect the concept of sustainability and therefore raises new priorities for the existing energy system and sets the challenge to find alternative energy sources that enhance the quality of life without jeopardising the environmental and human health. This study investigated the consequences of the use of alternative fuels (hydrogen, natural gas, bio-ethanol and bio-gas) by focusing on several factors that can be expected to influence the environmental, economic and social sector, in order to verify the feasibility of increasing their share compared to conventional fuels. The results indicated that economy criteria of alternative fuels is consider to be significant advantage over traditional fuels, while the comparative evaluation that resulted from the combination of properties with the optimal values, highlights and drives the exploration of hydrogen as the 'best' alternative fuel source.

Keywords: alternative fuels; hydrogen; natural gas; bioethanol; biogas; sustainable development; analytical hierarchy process; AHP; multicriteria analysis; biofuels; sustainability; environmental evaluation; technical evaluation.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2016.078076

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2016 Vol.10 No.1, pp.3 - 15

Received: 15 Sep 2015
Accepted: 26 Oct 2015
Published online: 01 Aug 2016 *

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