The study investigates the weighting and hierarchization of renewable energy sources in specific geographical regions of Colombia using the TOPSIS and Diffuse TOPSIS metaheuristic models. 5 regions were analyzed, two of them with different scenarios: Caribbean 1 and 2, Pacific 1 and 2, Andean, Amazonian and Orinoquia. The results reveal significant differences in the evaluation of technologies between the two models. In the Caribbean 1, Diffuse TOPSIS gave a higher score to Solar Photovoltaics, while TOPSIS favored Hydropower. In the Caribbean 2, Solar Photovoltaic obtained similar scores in both models, but Wind was rated better by TOPSIS. In the Pacific Region 1, Biomass and large-scale Hydropower led according to both models. In the Pacific 2, Solar Photovoltaic was better evaluated by TOPSIS, while Wind was preferred by Diffuse TOPSIS. In the Andean Region, large-scale hydroelectric and Solar photovoltaic plants obtained high scores in both models. In the Amazon, Biomass led in both models, although with differences in scores. In Orinoquia, Solar Photovoltaic was rated higher by both models. The relevance of this research lies in its ability to address not only Colombia's immediate energy demands, but also in its ability to establish a solid and replicable methodological framework. The application of metaheuristic methods such as TOPSIS and TOPSIS with fuzzy logic is presented as a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches, considering the complexity and uncertainty inherent in the evaluation of renewable energy sources. By achieving a more precise weighting and hierarchization, this study will significantly contribute to strategic decision-making in the implementation of sustainable energy solutions in Colombia, serving as a valuable model for other countries with similar challenges.

This article quantifies the development of photovoltaic solar energy in Colombia and its current development prospects. The high demand for electricity in Colombia is increasing since there is a large population, industrial, and business increase, which brings a higher energy consumption and consequently economic, social, and environmental problems. Faced with this situation, a possible solution is proposed, using solar energy, to supply the increase in demand and mitigate the problems caused by current electricity generation because Colombia has high levels of solar radiation in almost the entire territory. The objective of this research is based on the analysis of the behavior of the projects on photovoltaic solar systems presented to the mining-energy planning unit (UPME) in the last 14 years until September 30, 2020, as well such as the study of the areas with the most effective implementation of this technology and their respective radiation indices. In addition, a synthesis is made of the regulations, laws, and tax incentives that exist for the implementation of this technology and the different stages of execution of the projects approved and in performance.

This study evaluates alternatives using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Fuzzy AHP (FAHP) methodologies across five scenarios (SC1 to SC5), aiming to compare the effectiveness of both approaches in integrating environmental and technical criteria. The results indicate that, in SC1, AHP assigns weights of 14.35% to A1 and 16.22% to A2, while FAHP demonstrates greater dispersion, highlighting A6 with 35.22%. In SC2, AHP prioritizes A1 with 14.16%, whereas FAHP increases the weight of the environmental criterion to 21.18%. In SC3, A1 remains the preferred option in both methodologies, with close weights of 34.00% for AHP and 32.98% for FAHP. In SC4, both methods show similar trends, with A1 standing out at 11.12% and A4 at 34.87%. Finally, in SC5, AHP allocates 8.52% to A1, while FAHP evaluates it at 10.73%. The findings suggest that FAHP allows greater sensitivity to variations in sub‐criteria, enabling a more precise evaluation aligned with sustainability objectives. The significance of environmental and social criteria across the scenarios underscores the necessity of incorporating more sustainable approaches into decision‐making processes. It is concluded that, while AHP delivers consistent results, FAHP may be better suited for contexts characterized by complexity and uncertainty. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is recommended to examine how variations in criterion weights impact final decisions.

This research explores the implementation of renewable energy technologies for power generation using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods, including AHP, FAHP, TOPSIS, and FUZZY-TOPSIS. Ten renewable energy alternatives were evaluated across seven geographic regions in Colombia, revealing variability in preferences depending on the method and scenario. Alternatives 6 and 4 frequently stood out, while others showed varied rankings. This study significantly contributes to the energy sector by offering a rigorous framework for selecting renewable generation technologies, supporting sustainable energy planning, and providing a model for replication in global contexts, some key points are:•The study applied systematic MCDM approaches to assess renewable energy sources.•Results demonstrated method-dependent variability and highlighted regional preferences.•It sets a benchmark for integrating sustainable practices into energy planning worldwide.

This study performs a systematic review and analysis of research on the use of multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods for more than 45 years. More than 34,468 documents related to MCDA were identified in more than 130 countries, with an annual increase of 14.15% in scientific production. India, China, and Iran lead in number of publications, covering about 35%. The universities with the most publications include Islamic Azad University and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. The main journals in this field are Expert Systems With Applications, Sustainability, and Journal of Cleaner Production. The most prolific authors are Zavadskas, E.; Wang, J.; Tzeng, GH; Zavadskas, EK; and Kahraman, C. The most popular methods are TOPSIS, AHP (analytic hierarchy process), VIKOR, PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation), and ANP. LATAN, which includes countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, has increased the use of MCDA in recent years. Colombia has also shown a great interest in MCDA, especially in the selection of alternative energy sources and industrial suppliers. This method of literature review provides a comprehensive overview of research at MCDA and offers valuable information for future projects and studies.

In contemporary times, regulations have been established to govern access and integration of electric vehicles, which hold immense potential in mitigating the adverse impacts of transportation arising from escalating mobility demands and rapid urbanization. Nevertheless, their implementation poses intricate challenges due to the multifaceted nature of sustainability and other complexities, as they are considered a prospective solution to address the pressing issue of climate change and achieve holistic sustainability. Moreover, this study elucidates the methodological approach employed for selecting a comprehensive set of criteria to be considered in energy planning initiatives involving the incorporation of electric vehicles, encompassing both renewable and conventional energy sources. The selection process was informed through a thorough review of existing literature and the insightful input from experts, utilizing the Likert scale and arithmetic mean as reference benchmarks. The outcomes of this research have yielded the identification of 27 sub-criteria, categorized into five distinct groups: technical, economic, social, environmental, and risk-related factors, thereby enabling a comprehensive evaluation of energy planning projects associated with the adoption of electric vehicles. The findings derived from employing the hierarchical analytical process with fuzzy logic FAHP highlight the considerable potential of most criteria and sub-criteria in devising effective measures. Notably, criteria related to policy-governance and environmental aspects emerged as the most influential, according to the collective expertise of the consulted group. This study significantly contributes to enhancing sustainable mobility and advancing progress towards attaining sustainable development goals. By delineating pertinent criteria and sub-criteria for the planning process, this research augments the literature dedicated to supporting informed decision-making in sustainable transportation, particularly through the potential application of a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) method.