Enhancing Social Participation for Sustainable Energy Management in Iran: A Strategic Multi-Criteria Approach

Khalili, Yasin; Heirani, Hossein

doi:10.22050/pbr.2025.546038.1406

Enhancing Social Participation for Sustainable Energy Management in Iran: A Strategic Multi-Criteria Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Yasin Khalili ¹

Hossein Heirani ²

¹ Department of Petroleum and Geo-Energy Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.

² Technology & Innovation Policy Studies Dep., National Research Institute for Science Policy (NRISP), Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22050/pbr.2025.546038.1406

Abstract

Iran faces persistent challenges in balancing energy demand and sustainability, driven by limited social participation and the absence of integrated policy frameworks. This study introduces an innovative hybrid decision-making approach that combines PESTEL, SWOT, and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) models to identify, evaluate, and prioritize strategies for enhancing public participation in sustainable energy management. The research adopts a mixed-method design, integrating qualitative expert interviews and content analysis in MAXQDA with quantitative weighting and ranking through Expert Choice AHP. The proposed framework captures both macro-environmental influences and internal institutional capacities, linking social-behavioral insights with data-driven prioritization. Results indicate that developing targeted educational programs and creating interactive digital platforms are the highest-priority strategies, with normalized weights of 0.35 and 0.30, respectively, followed by local collaboration networks and incentive-based policies. The findings reveal that applying a combined social and analytical modeling approach can increase public participation potential by over 60 % and contribute to a 25 % reduction in energy consumption in the medium term. The study offers a novel quantitative–qualitative framework adaptable for developing countries seeking to operationalize community engagement within national energy transition policies.

Highlights

1. Developed a multi-criteria strategic framework using PESTEL, SWOT, and AHP analyses to enhance social participation in Iran's sustainable energy management, addressing supply-demand imbalances and high consumption.

2. Identified key challenges such as low public awareness, weak digital infrastructure, and legal gaps, alongside opportunities like Iran's young population and growing environmental sensitivity.

3. Prioritized strategies via AHP: targeted educational programs (weight 0.35), interactive digital platforms (0.30), local collaboration networks (0.25), and incentive-based policies (0.10).

4. Designed a 10-year phased roadmap aiming to increase social participation by up to 60% and reduce energy consumption by 25%, drawing on global experiences from Norway, Germany, and China.

5. Aligned recommendations with UN SDGs 7 and 13, providing practical policy suggestions including 3% budget allocation for education and cross-sectoral coordination for sustainability.

Keywords

Social Participation

Sustainable Energy Management

PESTEL

SWOT

AHP

Subjects

Energy Management and Engineering

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