Environmental Researches

Environmental Researches

Environmental Risk Assessment and Prioritization of a Combined Cycle Power Plant Using Shannon Entropy and the MARCOS Method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Arash Shirzadi 1
Mohsen Dehghani Ghanatghestani 1
Sahar Rezayan 2
Seyed Ali Jozi 3
Saber Ghasemi 4
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, B.A. C, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
2 Department of Environmental Sciences, S. C, Islamic Azad University, Shahroud, Iran.
3 Department of Environmental Sciences, N.T. C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
4 Marine Environmental Research Center, B.A. C, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
10.22034/eiap.2026.246807
Abstract
The electricity industry is one of the fundamental infrastructure sectors, and economic and social development cannot be achieved without it. At the same time, power plants exert significant environmental impacts during both construction and operational phases. Therefore, it is essential to adopt appropriate management measures to reduce the risks and adverse consequences arising from power plant activities. This study aimed to assess and prioritize the environmental risks of a combined cycle power plant during its operational phase. Following the identification of environmental risks, the Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) method was employed to evaluate risk factors based on the criteria of severity and probability of occurrence, and the corresponding risk levels were calculated. Subsequently, the MARCOS (Measurement Alternatives and Ranking according to the Compromise Solution) method was applied to prioritize the significant environmental aspects. The weighting of criteria was determined using the Shannon Entropy method. The results indicated that among the identified environmental risks, combustion gas emissions, with a utility degree of 0.741, industrial waste generation, with a utility degree of 0.738, and gas leakage resulting from corrosion or rupture of transmission pipelines, with a utility degree of 0.708, were identified as the most significant environmental aspects of the studied power plant. Finally, corrective and control measures were proposed to mitigate environmental risks and improve environmental performance.
Keywords
Environmental Risk Assessment
Shannon Entropy
MARCOS Method
Combined Cycle Power Plant
Power Plant
Subjects
Askaripoor, T., Kazemi, E., & Marzban, M. (2020). Fire Risk Assessment and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Fire Protection Actions in a Combined-Cycle Power Plant, Iranian Journal of Health. Safety & Environment, 7 (1), 1413-1420.
Borgheipour. H., Monazami Tehrani, G., Abbaszadeh Tehrani, N., Nasiri Lomer, S., Nekooei Esfahani, A, & Mohammadfam, I. (2019). Health Safety and Environmental Hazards of the Chlorination Unit of Combined Cycle Power Plants by Using HAZOP and Bow-Tie Methods. ohhp; 3 (2) :134-145 [In Persian]. http://ohhp.ssu.ac.ir/article-1-200-fa.html
Celik, E., & Gul, M. (2021). Hazard identification, risk assessment and control for dam construction safety using an integrated BWM and MARCOS approach under interval type-2 fuzzy sets environment. Automation in Construction 127: 103699.
Darvishi, S., Jozi, S. A., Malmasi, S., & Rezaian, S. (2019). Introduction of a new model for assessing the environmental risk of dams during construction using EFMEA and VIKOR combination methods (case study of the Balarood Dam in Khuzestan. MJSP; 23(4) :37-61[In Persian].
http://hsmsp.modares.ac.ir/article-21-27714-fa.html
Ebadzadeh, F., Monavari, S. M., Jozi, S. A., Robati, M., & Rahimi, R. (2023). Assessing the Health, Safety and Environmental Risk of Ammonia and Urea Units Using the Integration of Shannon Entropy and WASPAS Based on Fuzzy Logic. Human and Environment, No. 63. 165-177 [In Persian].
Ebadzadeh, F., Monavari, S. M., Jozi, S. A., Robati, M., & Rahimi, R. (2023). An integrated of fuzzy-WASPAS and E-FMEA methods for environmental risk assessment: a case study of petrochemical industry, Iran. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(14), 40315-40326.
El-Araby, A. (2023). The utilization of MARCOS method for different engineering applications: a comparative study.International journal of research in industrial engineering, 12(2), 155-164.
Ghosh, A., Chakraborty, P. S., & Balakannan, K. (2023). Environmental Impact Assessment from the Emission of Combined Natural Gas Cycle Power Plant. Sustainability, Agri, Food and Environmental Research, 11.
Heller, S. (2006). Managing industrial risk-having a tasted and proven system to prevent and assess risk. J. Hazard Mater., 130(1-2):58-63. DOI: 10.22034/GJESM.2016.02.04.004.
Jozi, S.A., & Saffarian, Sh. (2011). Environmental risk analysis of Abadan gas power plant using TOPSIS method. Journal of environmental studies, 37(58), 53-66 [In Persian].  https://sid.ir/paper/2838/en
Kakaei, H., Jafari Nodoushan, R., Kamalvandi, M., Azad, P., Normohammadi, P., & Kakaei, Z. (2015). Identification and Classification of Risks and Potential Events by using Preliminary Hazard Analysis Method (PHA) in Kermanshah Oil Refinery. jehe; 3 (1), p.1-9 [In Persian].  http://jehe.abzums.ac.ir/article-1-196-fa.html.
Khodadadi-Karimvand, M., & Shirouyehzad, H. (2021). Well drilling fuzzy risk assessment using fuzzy FMEA and fuzzy TOPSIS. Journal of Fuzzy Extension and Applications, 2(2), 144-155.
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. 1970. Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and psychological measurement, 30(3), 607-610.
Momayez, A., & Qassemi, S. A. (2019). Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of south PARS special zone (ASSALOOYEH) in creating a stable environmental using the LEOPOLD matrix.
Morales-Torres, A., Serrano-Lombillo, A., Escuder-Bueno, I., & Altarejos- García, L. (2016). The suitability of risk reduction indicators to inform dam safety management. Structure and infrastructure engineering: Maintenance management, life cycle design and performance, 1465-1476. DOI:10.1080/15732479.2015.1136830.
Morris, P., & Therivel, R. (2009). Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment (Natural and Built Environment Series) 3rd Edition. London, Imprint: Routledge. 577. https: //doi.org/10.4324/9780203892909.
Mousavi, S., Sotoude, A., & Azamizadeh, H. (2017). Environmental risk assessment of Yazd combined cycle power plant by William Fine method. The 4th Conference on Environmental Planning and Management, Tehran. [In Persian].  https://civilica.com/doc/589782
Nesari Ardakani, M., Morovati, M., Arsalan, M., & Siyahati Ardakani, G. (2021). Environmental Risk Assessment of Non-Metallic Industries Using Combined PHA-William Fine Technique (Case Study: Eram Ardakan Tile & Ceramic IND Co.). Journal of Environmental Health Enginering, 8(2), 196-211.‏ [In Persian].
Noori, H., Cheraghi, M., & Eslami Baladeh, A. 2019. A hybrid fuzzy MADM model for environmental risk assessment: a case of an oil and gas exploitation area. J Health Saf Work. 2019; 9 (3), p. 200-21[In Persian]. http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-6166-fa.html.
Pyramoon Consulting Co. (2016). Environmental assessment of Qeshm combined cycle power plant [In Persian].
Shirali, G., Askaripoor, T., Kazemi, E., Zohoorian Azad, E., & Marzban, M. (2014). Assessment and risks ranking in a combined cycle power plant using degree of Belief approach in fuzzy logic. ioh; 11 (5):20-29 [In Persian].  http://ioh.iums.ac.ir/article-1-1159-fa.html
Stević, Ž., Pamučar, D., Puška, A., & Chatterjee, P. (2020). Sustainable supplier selection in healthcare industries using a new MCDM method: Measurement of alternatives and ranking according to COmpromise solution (MARCOS). Computers & Industrial Engineering, 140, 106231.
Suter, G. W., Barnthouse, L. W., & O'Neill, R. V. (1987). Treatment of risk in environmental impact assessment. J Environ Manage. 11(3):295-303. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0186 7157.
Tenney, A., Kværner, J., & Gjerstad, K. I. (2006). Uncertainty in environmental impact assessment predictions: the need for better communication and more transparency. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal; 24(1): 45-56. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154606781765345
Torab, S., & Dashti, S. (2022). Risk Assessment of Health Safety and Environmental of Samangan Combined Cycle Power Plant using FMEA&SAW Integrated Model. Iranian Dam and Hydroelectric Powerplant; 8 (31):16-28 [In Persian]. http://journal.hydropower.org.ir/article-1-461-fa.html
Wang, Y., Tian, M., Wang, D., Zhao, Q., Shan, S., & Lin, S. (2012). Study on the HSE Management at Construction Site of Oil and Gas Processing Area. Procedia Engineering, 45, 231-234.
Wood, C., Dipper, B., & Jones, C. 2000. Auditing the assessment of the environmental impacts of planning projects. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management; 43(1): 23-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640560010757
Yu, J., Hongyu, D., Yang, Y., Shibo, W., Qingze, Z., & Ya, X. (2024). Risk assessment of liquefied natural gas storage tank leakage using failure mode and effects analysis with Fermatean fuzzy sets and CoCoSo method. Applied Soft Computing. 154. 111334.
Environmental Researches
Volume 16, Issue 32
Recerches
March 2026
Pages 121-137