Multiple-criteria decision-making for hydrogen production approaches based on economic, social, and environmental impacts

Hydrogen H₂ has emerged as the most viable energy source in recent years for decarbonizing energy sector. Therefore, all stakeholders must understand the various H₂ production approaches, along with their economic viability and environmental impacts. Additionally, it is crucial for policymakers and decision-makers to comprehend the role that H₂ plays in accomplishing the various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN). In this work, the most common H₂ production technologies have been investigated and assessed. Three different multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, namely weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS), weighted sum model and weighted product model (WSMWPM), and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) were used to choose the most feasible routes for H₂ production considering 25 criteria. Three weighting methods, namely no priority, consistency-based ranking index for decision making (CRITIC), and Entropy were employed for weighing different criteria, to further ensure the reliability of the results obtained. Additionally, the potential of fulfilling the SDGs has been examined, and the most relevant terms have been highlighted. Among the different investigated H₂ production technologies, the MCDM results showed that biomass gasification followed by steam methane reforming (SMR) outperformed other technologies. The work reveals that hydrogen's primary influence on the SDGs stemmed from its potential to provide a clean source of energy (SDG-7: Affordable and Clean Energy) and lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) (SDG-13: Climate Action).