Sustainable Energy Solutions: Evaluation of Solar Panel Installation Using Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods

Abstract

This study evaluates solar panel installation decisions by applying a hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (FMCDM) methodology, integrating the Fuzzy Logarithm Methodology of Additive Weights (F-LMAW) for criterion weighting and the Fuzzy Alternative Ranking Technique based on Adaptive Standardized Intervals (F-ARTASI) for ranking alternatives. The primary aim is to identify and prioritize critical criteria influencing solar panel installation and optimize the decision-making process to propose sustainable and strategic solutions. Eighteen comprehensive criteria-ranging from installation costs and energy efficiency to environmental impact and public acceptance-were analyzed across five potential locations in Turkey: Gürün, Kangal, Divriği, Altınyayla, and Imranlı.

The findings highlight that the ranking of alternatives remains consistent under varying F-Bonferroni mean aggregation operator parameters ( and ), demonstrating the robustness and reliability of the adopted approach. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the established criteria play a decisive role in the ranking, with Gürün consistently ranked first across all scenarios. Validation of the F-ARTASI results against established FMCDM methods, including F-TOPSIS, F-CoCoSo, F-MARCOS, F-WASPAS, and F-RAWEC, showed high consistency, with Spearman Correlation Coefficients (SCC) averaging 0.90. This reinforces the methodological reliability of the proposed model and underscores its applicability in real-world energy management scenarios.