Site selection decision framework using fuzzy ANP-VIKOR for large commercial rooftop PV system based on sustainability perspective

The Large Commercial Rooftop Photovoltaic System (LCRPS) projects have been rapidly proposed in China due to policy promotion towards sustainability. Site selection immensely determines the life cycle of LCRPS projects based on sustainability perspective, in need of considering the impact on environment and society. However, inadequacies still exist in the decision for LCRPS site selection. Firstly, uncertainties of information cannot be described integrally. Secondly, consideration of the correlation among criteria from sustainability perspective is lacking. Thirdly, the ranking methods in previous studies cannot reflect decision makers' subjective preferences. Therefore, this study establishes a decision framework for LCRPS site selection utilizing Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (Fuzzy ANP) method and Fuzzy Vlsekriterijumska Optimizacija IKompromisno Resenje (Fuzzy VIKOR) method. First, the triangular intuitionistic fuzzy numbers (TIFNs) are adopted to describe indeterminate information. Second, fuzzy ANP is introduced to reflect the correlation among criteria based on sustainability perspective. Third, fuzzy VIKOR is employed to rank the options on the basis of decision makers' subjective preferences. Finally, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, a case study of Guangdong province with sensitive analysis and comparative analysis is conducted. The result shows the LCRPS site located in Dongguan should be selected as the optimal site.