Productivity of steam power-plants using uncertain DEA-based Malmquist index in the presence of undesirable outputs

Energy generation is mixed with production of emissions, called undesirable outputs. Moreover, the values of inputs and outputs of criteria are not deterministic in real productions and usually mixed with a great amount of uncertainties during planning horizon. So, measuring the productivity in the presence of uncertainty and undesirable outputs is not a trivial task. In this paper, an uncertain data envelopment analysis (DEA)-based Malmquist productivity index (MPI) is developed in presence of undesirable outputs to assess the productivity of production. The theoretical properties of the proposed models are discussed. The proposed method is applied on real case study in ten steam electricity power-plants. Moreover, the changes in technical efficiencies and changes in technology during multiple periods which influence productivity are sensed using proposed approach. The regress and progress of a power plant is demonstrated during planning horizons and the cause of these are also illustrated.