Application of promethee multi criteria decision making method to determine optimal solar panel selection in solar energy systems

In this study, there are the solution steps for selection of the most suitable panel among multiple alternatives and multiple criteria problem faced by decision makers during the selection of photovoltaic panels which are components of solar energy systems. Photovoltaic panels vary according to their production characteristics and the needs of the decision maker. In order to evaluate qualitative and quantitative features at the same time, and to rank the alternatives in the most accurate way, PROMETHEE (The Preference Ranking Organization Method For Enrichment Evaluation) and AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) methods as the techniques from Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) have been used in this thesis study. PROMETHEE Method has been preferred in order to select the most suitable one of the needed photovoltaic panel in the most appropriate time. Two important factors should be considered while PROMETHEE method is being analysed. The first one of these factors is the weights of the criteria, the other one is the preference function which is determined for each criterion in accordance with the criterion. In determination of weights of the criteria, AHP, another MCDM technique, has been used. During the determination of preference functions, two different techniques have been used. The first one of these techniques is the selection of the suitable functions by decision maker considering qualification of criteria, and the second one is the use of the preference function assistant of the Visual PROMETHEE program. After the determination of the criteria weights and preference functions required for the solution of the PROMETHEE method, the photovoltaic panel selection process has been started. Considering that it will be useful to include different perspectives for the selection of the photovoltaic panel, two different programs, which are given as MS Excel and Visual PROMETHEE, have been used in the selection of photovoltaic panels during the solution process with the PROMETHEE technique. Two different scenario studies have also been carried out in the Visual Promethee program. For all three solutions, the same panels has taken the first two places. The decision maker will have chosen the most suitable panel by choosing the e alternative, i.e. the 310 Watt monocrystalline with 60 cells panel, which stands out as the best alternative among the seven photovoltaic panels, or choosing the f alternative, that is the 345 Watt polycrystalline panel with 72 cells.