Assessment of the incubating environment for investment in biogas technology in Syria by using AHP and SWOT

Abstract

AbstractIn light of the massive energy supply shortage due to the Syrian war since 2011, renewable energy adoption has a high potential to cover the actual energy demand. Hence, this study aims to shed light on the factors that affect investment in biogas technology. With the scarcity of research on alternative energies in Syria, this paper focused on the characteristics of the Syrian environment toward biogas technology adoption. The results show that Syrian society accepts and desires to adopt new technologies, representing an optimal strategy to stimulate biogas technology use and the need to spread awareness about its benefits. The SWOT model was applied to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing biogas technology adoption. The analytical hierarchy process model was applied to set priorities and make better decisions related to the knowledge of biogas, acceptance of biogas technology, desire for and common approach for its use, the resulting organic fertilizer, and administrative and financial aspects. The work concludes that the southern region was at the forefront in the areas studied in terms of weights of biogas technology investment criteria, subsequently, the central and later the coastal regions. By presenting a systematic and comprehensive approach, this study represents a roadmap to assist decision-makers in inking decisions related to adopting and deploying biogas technology on a larger scale and contributes to developing a criterion for selecting biogas sites in Syria.