Application of multicriteria decision making to the evaluation of new energy system development in Taiwan

The energy crisis in the 1970s and the recent rise in environmental protectionism have heightened interest in the introduction of new energy systems and the development of techniques to ensure the stability of the energy supply in Taiwan, where more than 90% of the supply is imported. In this study, a multicriteria evaluation method is employed to evaluate comprehensively the alternatives for new energy-system development. Energy technology, environmental impacts, sociology and economic factors were evaluated and development directions and strategy for future energy systems in Taiwan are proposed.