Biogas vs. Pipeline Gas in Rural Energy Transitions: A Comparative Sustainability Assessment Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)

Rural energy transitions in Bangladesh are central to achieving SDG 7. This study conducts a comparative sustainability assessment of biogas and pipeline gas using MCDA combining AHP weighting with TOPSIS ranking. Primary data from a household survey (n=120) in rural Cumilla. AHP prioritized environmental (0.4658) and social (0.2771) criteria. TOPSIS ranked pipeline gas as more sustainable overall. Biogas offers environmental benefits but adoption barriers limit perceived sustainability. Policy priorities include targeted subsidies, user training, and context-specific hybrid models.