Development of the Complex Nexus of Socio-Techno-Economic-Environmental Parametric (STEEP) Metrics for Evaluating Coal-to-Clean Energy Transitions

TL;DR

This paper introduces the STEEP metrics framework for systematically evaluating coal-to-clean energy transitions, aiding decision-making and resource optimization across site selection, planning, and operational phases.

Contribution

It develops a comprehensive STEEP metrics framework with three approaches for evaluating and guiding coal-to-clean energy transitions, integrating multi-criteria decision-making, performance indicators, and operational optimization.

Findings

Effective site ranking based on societal, technical, economic, and environmental criteria.

Performance comparison of Greenfield, C2N, and C2IES systems.

Operational cost minimization through UCED model across scenarios.

Abstract

Transitioning from coal to clean energy, such as nuclear and renewables, is essential for mitigating climate change, improving air quality, and ensuring sustainable energy security. Reducing reliance on coal lowers greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, which enhances public health and economic growth through renewable energy investments. Clean energy also fosters energy independence and long-term sustainability. This paper presents a Complex Nexus of Socio-Techno-Economic-Environmental Parametric (STEEP) Metrics to systematically evaluate and guide these transitions, facilitating informed decision-making and optimizing resource allocation. The methodology is classified into three approaches: optimal site selection using a multi-criteria decision-making framework that ranks coal plant sites based on societal, technical, economic, and environmental criteria; long-term planning evaluation through performance indicators comparing Greenfield, Coal-to-Nuclear (C2N), and Coal-to-Integrated Energy Systems (C2IES); and short-term operational benefits assessment using the Unit Commitment Economic Dispatch (UCED) model to optimize generator scheduling and minimize costs across various scenarios. This framework enables practical analysis of coal-to-clean transitions, identifying the best strategies for implementation.