Comprehensive evaluation for plan selection of urban integrated energy systems: A novel multi-criteria decision-making framework

•A 4-dimension plan selection index system is constructed.•A BWM-CRITIC-VIKOR framework under intuitionistic fuzzy environment is proposed.•Initial investment and utilization rate have the greatest influence.•The energy adequacy index should be given the lowest consideration. An applicable and scientific plan of integrated energy system is conducive to the improvement of system operation efficiency and project investment profits. Different from the industrial park integrated energy system, the urban integrated energy system (UIES) is more closed to residents’ life with limited available energy resources, and concern more about energy efficiency and environmental protection characteristics. However, there are few studies focusing on plan selection of UIES investment or considering UIES actual requirements. Therefore, this paper innovatively proposes an intuitionistic fuzzy framework for UIES plan selection. Firstly, based on project demands and characteristics, a comprehensive evaluation index system is constructed from 4 dimensions of economic cost, energy utilization, environmental impact and social recognition. Secondly, under the consideration of method characteristics and calculation rules, a novel combined weighting method integrating the Best-worst Method and the CRITIC are proposed to determine index weights. Thirdly, drawing a balance between group utility and individual regret, decision-making information is aggregated and alternative plans are sorting. Lastly, a case of UIES in Shanghai is applied to verify the proposed framework. Results show that the initial investment, the utilization rate of renewable energy, and the comprehensive utilization rate have the greatest influence on UIES plan selection.