Multi-Criteria Sustainability Assessment of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems Using Life-Cycle Modeling
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The shift to sustainable energy systems demands systematic assessment systems that are able to measure the environment, economic and social impact at the same time. This paper suggests the use of a multi-criteria sustainability evaluation system to use in hybrid renewable energy systems through the application of the multi-criteria decisions analysis (MCDA) model in conjunction with the use of life-cycle analysis. The suggested solution analyses the hybridised solar, wind and battery systems on various sustainability parameters such as greenhouse gases, energy payback period, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and investment, job creation, and access to energy. Quantifying environmental impacts throughout life cycle of material extraction, component manufacturing, transportation, installation, operation, and end-of-life management is done using the life-cycle modelling. The MCDA framework uses normalised values of indicator and weighted scoring in ranking alternative renewable energy system configurations. The findings have shown that the hybrid solar-wind-battery system has better sustainability performance levels in relation to single-source renewable systems. The hybrid design which lowers the carbon emissions in its lifetime to about 20 gCO₂/kWh as compared to 45 gCO₂ /kWh in standalone solar PV systems, with a competitive LCOE of about 0.070 $ /kWh because of potential complement to resources and increase in energy reliability. The multi-criteria appraisal further reveals that hybrid renewable systems meet greater overall sustainability ratings through the process of balancing the environmental outcomes, economic viability and the societal consequences. The suggested framework will offer a decision-support framework that is systematic enough to enable policymakers, engineers, and energy planners to arrive at the most optimum configurations of renewable energy systems in becoming sustainable in terms of energy development. Future studies might be able to broaden the framework with including other renewable technologies, variability of regional resources and new optimization methods of large-scale energy system planning.
Author: S. Sindhu
Language: English
Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220102727