Comparative Evaluation and Ranking of Different Power Technologies Based on the Integrated NEEDS & KIND Framework
This article provides the results of a case study on a comparative evaluation and ranking of six power generation technologies including 2 nuclear, 2 fossil fuel and 2 renewable power generation options. The performed analysis was based on the combination of the approaches proposed within the project New Energy Externalities Development for Sustainability (the NEEDS project) and the INPRO/IAEA KIND collaborative project (so-called the integrated NEEDS & KIND framework). The set of key indicators (36 key indicators arranged in a four-level objectives tree) along with approaches for their assessment including relevant databases were borrowed from the NEEDS project and adapted for the present study. The approach for judgments aggregation is based on the IAEA/INPRO approach to carrying out comparative evaluations (the KIND approach). Also, the study includes the results of the advanced sensitivity/uncertainty treatment with respect to weighing factors and key indicators using relevant tools developed within the INPRO/IAEA CENESO collaborative project. The presented results demonstrate the outstanding performances of nuclear power technologies (especially fast reactor technologies) for meeting sustainable energy development goals in the case of Russia whose performance even better than the performance of renewable energy sources.