A Review of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Applications to Solve Energy Management Problems From 2010-2025: Current State and Future Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31181/sdmap21202525Keywords:
MCDM, Energy Management, Renewable Energy Systems, Sustainable Energy Planning, Bibliometric AnalysisAbstract
Energy management is a critical challenge in the global effort to achieve sustainability, improve efficiency, and balance economic and environmental priorities. Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques have emerged as powerful tools to address complex and competing criteria in energy systems. This paper reviews the current state of MCDM applications in energy management, focusing on renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, grid management, and policy planning from 2010-2025 using bibliometric analysis. It identifies popular methods such as AHP, TOPSIS, and hybrid models, highlighting their strengths and limitations. The analysis reveals trends, gaps, and challenges, such as handling uncertainty, integrating real-time data, and adapting to dynamic energy environments. Future research directions emphasize leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT to enhance MCDM models and expanding their application to emerging areas like microgrids and sustainable urban systems. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the field and outlines a roadmap for advancing MCDM applications in solving energy management problems.
Downloads
References
Moazzen, F., & Hossain, M. J. (2025). A two-layer strategy for sustainable energy management of microgrid clusters with embedded energy storage system and demand-side flexibility provision. Applied Energy, 377, 124659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124659
Achuo, E., Kakeu, P., & Asongu, S. (2025). Financial development, human capital and energy transition: A global comparative analysis. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 19(1), 59-80. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-11-2023-0004
Groppi, D., Pastore, L. M., Nastasi, B., Prina, M. G., Garcia, D. A., & de Santoli, L. (2025). Energy modelling challenges for the full decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 209, 115103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115103
Sandra, M., Narayanamoorthy, S., Suvitha, K., Pamucar, D., Simic, V., & Kang, D. (2025). An insightful multicriteria model for the selection of drilling technique for heat extraction from geothermal reservoirs using a fuzzy-rough approach. Information Sciences, 686, 121353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2024.121353
Amponsah, N. Y., Troldborg, M., Kington, B., Aalders, I., & Hough, R. L. (2014). Greenhouse gas emissions from renewable energy sources: A review of lifecycle considerations. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 39, 461-475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.087
Ahmmad, J., Mahmood, T., Pamucar, D., & Waqas, H. M. (2025). A novel Complex q-rung orthopair fuzzy Yager Aggregation Operators and Their Applications in Environmental Engineering. Heliyon. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41668
Pamucar, D., Deveci, M., Stević, Ž., Gokasar, I., Isik, M., & Coffman, D. M. (2022). Green strategies in mobility planning towards climate change adaption of urban areas using fuzzy 2D algorithm. Sustainable Cities and Society, 87, 104159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104159
Yang, Y., Wang, W., Qin, J., Wang, M., Ma, Q., & Zhong, Y. (2024). Review of vehicle to grid integration to support power grid security. Energy Reports, 12, 2786-2800.
Sahoo, S. K., & Goswami, S. S. (2023). A comprehensive review of multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) Methods: advancements, applications, and future directions. Decision Making Advances, 1(1), 25-48. https://doi.org/10.31181/dma1120237
Kshanh, I., & Tanaka, M. (2024). Comparative analysis of MCDM for energy efficiency projects evaluation towards sustainable industrial energy management: case study of a petrochemical complex. Expert Systems with Applications, 255, 124692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2024.124692
Sahoo, S. K., & Choudhury, B. B. (2023). Evaluating Material Alternatives for low cost Robotic Wheelchair Chassis: A Combined CRITIC, EDAS, and COPRAS Framework. Jordan Journal of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, 17(4). https://doi.org/10.59038/jjmie/170419
Sotoudeh-Anvari, A. (2022). The applications of MCDM methods in COVID-19 pandemic: A state of the art review. Applied Soft Computing, 126, 109238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asoc.2022.109238
Sahoo, S. K., & Choudhury, B. B. (2024). An Integrated MCDM Framework for Optimizing Rotary Actuator Selection in Smart Robotic Power Wheelchair Prototypes. Jordan Journal of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, 18(3). https://doi.org/10.59038/jjmie/180311
Parvaneh, F., & Hammad, A. (2024). Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) to Select the Most Sustainable Power-Generating Technology. Sustainability, 16(8), 3287. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083287
Saraswat, S. K., Digalwar, A. K., & Vijay, V. (2024). Analysis of Multi-renewable Energy Potential Sites in India Using Spatial Characteristics: A GIS and Hybrid MCDM Approach. Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability, 8(5), 1493-1526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41660-024-00441-3
Uzair, M., & Kazmi, S. A. A. (2023). A multi-criteria decision model to support sustainable building energy management system with intelligent automation. Energy and Buildings, 301, 113687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.113687
Schaefer, J. L., Siluk, J. C. M., & de Carvalho, P. S. (2021). An MCDM-based approach to evaluate the performance objectives for strategic management and development of Energy Cloud. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320, 128853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128853
Habibzadeh, S., Astaraei, F. R., & Jahangir, M. H. (2025). Sustainability assessment of a petrochemical plant electricity supply based on 4E optimization of various hybrid renewable energy systems scenarios. Energy Conversion and Management, 325, 119357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.119357
Wen, H., Liu, X., Yang, M., Lei, B., Cheng, X., & Chen, Z. (2023). An energy demand-side management and net metering decision framework. Energy, 271, 127075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.127075
Hassan, M., Khan Afridi, M., & Irfan Khan, M. (2019). Energy policies and environmental security: A multi-criteria analysis of energy policies of Pakistan. International Journal of Green Energy, 16(7), 510-519. https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2019.1593177
Alizadeh, R., Soltanisehat, L., Lund, P. D., & Zamanisabzi, H. (2020). Improving renewable energy policy planning and decision-making through a hybrid MCDM method. Energy Policy, 137, 111174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111174
Kumar, R., & Sahoo, S. K. (2025). A Bibliometric Analysis of Agro-Based Industries: Trends and Challenges in Supply Chain Management. Decision Making Advances, 3(1), 200-215. https://doi.org/10.31181/dma31202568
Sahoo, S. K., Choudhury, B. B., & Dhal, P. R. (2024). A bibliometric analysis of material selection using MCDM methods: trends and insights. Spectrum of Mechanical Engineering and Operational Research, 1(1), 189-205. https://doi.org/10.31181/smeor11202417
Mourao, P. R., & Martinho, V. D. (2020). Forest entrepreneurship: A bibliometric analysis and a discussion about the co-authorship networks of an emerging scientific field. Journal of Cleaner Production, 256, 120413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120413
Demir, G., Chatterjee, P., Zakeri, S., & Pamucar, D. (2024). Mapping the evolution of multi-attributive border approximation area comparison method: a bibliometric analysis. Decision Making: Applications in Management and Engineering, 7(1), 290-314. https://doi.org/10.31181/dmame7120241037
Demir, G., Chatterjee, P., & Pamucar, D. (2024). Sensitivity analysis in multi-criteria decision making: A state-of-the-art research perspective using bibliometric analysis. Expert Systems with Applications, 237, 121660. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.121660
Bai, X., Aw, E. C. X., Tan, G. W. H., & Ooi, K. B. (2024). Livestreaming as the next frontier of e-commerce: A bibliometric analysis and future research agenda. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 101390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.elerap.2024.101390
Behzadian, M., Otaghsara, S. K., Yazdani, M., & Ignatius, J. (2012). A state-of the-art survey of TOPSIS applications. Expert Systems with applications, 39(17), 13051-13069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2012.05.056
Kumar, A., Sah, B., Singh, A. R., Deng, Y., He, X., Kumar, P., & Bansal, R. C. (2017). A review of multi criteria decision making (MCDM) towards sustainable renewable energy development. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 69, 596-609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.11.191
Huang, I. B., Keisler, J., & Linkov, I. (2011). Multi-criteria decision analysis in environmental sciences: Ten years of applications and trends. Science of the total environment, 409(19), 3578-3594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.06.022
Mardani, A., Jusoh, A., & Zavadskas, E. K. (2015). Fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making techniques and applications–Two decades review from 1994 to 2014. Expert systems with Applications, 42(8), 4126-4148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2015.01.003
Mardani, A., Jusoh, A., Zavadskas, E. K., Cavallaro, F., & Khalifah, Z. (2015). Sustainable and renewable energy: An overview of the application of multiple criteria decision making techniques and approaches. Sustainability, 7(10), 13947-13984. https://doi.org/10.3390/su71013947
Zavadskas, E. K., Turskis, Z., & Kildienė, S. (2014). State of art surveys of overviews on MCDM/MADM methods. Technological and economic development of economy, 20(1), 165-179. https://doi.org/10.3846/20294913.2014.892037
San Cristóbal, J. R. (2011). Multi-criteria decision-making in the selection of a renewable energy project in spain: The Vikor method. Renewable energy, 36(2), 498-502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.07.031
Sánchez-Lozano, J. M., Teruel-Solano, J., Soto-Elvira, P. L., & García-Cascales, M. S. (2013). Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods for the evaluation of solar farms locations: Case study in south-eastern Spain. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 24, 544-556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.03.019
Lee, H. C., & Chang, C. T. (2018). Comparative analysis of MCDM methods for ranking renewable energy sources in Taiwan. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 92, 883-896.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.05.007
Suganthi, L., Iniyan, S., & Samuel, A. A. (2015). Applications of fuzzy logic in renewable energy systems–a review. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 48, 585-607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.04.037
Ahmad, T., Madonski, R., Zhang, D., Huang, C., & Mujeeb, A. (2022). Data-driven probabilistic machine learning in sustainable smart energy/smart energy systems: Key developments, challenges, and future research opportunities in the context of smart grid paradigm. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 160, 112128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112128
Liu, P., Zhang, T., Tian, F., Teng, Y., & Yang, M. (2024). Optimized grid partitioning and scheduling in multi-energy systems using a hybrid decision-making approach. Energies, 17(13), 3253. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133253
Otay, İ., Onar, S. Ç., Öztayşi, B., & Kahraman, C. (2024). Evaluation of sustainable energy systems in smart cities using a Multi-Expert Pythagorean fuzzy BWM & TOPSIS methodology. Expert Systems with Applications, 250, 123874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2024.123874
Rezk, H., Olabi, A. G., Mahmoud, M., Wilberforce, T., & Sayed, E. T. (2024). Metaheuristics and multi-criteria decision-making for renewable energy systems: Review, progress, bibliometric analysis, and contribution to the sustainable development pillars. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 102883. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2024.102883
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Sushil Kumar Sahoo, Dragan Pamucar, Shankha Shubhra Goswami (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.