Novel Score Function Enriched Quartic Fuzzy Group Decision-Making Framework on Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Module Recycling Technology

Selection of the most suitable Solar Photovoltaic Module Recycling Technology (SPVMRT) to recover valuable metals like Silicon (Si), Aluminum (Al), Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) layer and rare earth materials like gallium, indium, tellurium from the End-of-life (EoL) Solar Photovoltaic Modules (SPVMs) is the focus of this research. With this aim, a Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making (MCGDM) framework has been modeled, and to handle the real-world ambiguity and opinionative uncertainty among Decision-Makers (DnMs), Quartic Fuzzy Environment (QFE) is incorporated. Several SPVMRTs (alternatives) and their respective influencing factors (criteria) have been considered for mathematical assessment. To find criteria weights, the concept of Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) is used and to come up with the optimal ranking of alternatives, the Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS) method has been extended under the Quartic Fuzzy Environment (QFE) under the aegis of Quartic Fuzzy Weighted Average (QFWA) operator and then integrated. To score the Quartic Fuzzy Numbers (QFNs), a novel score function under QFE has been introduced, satisfying each salient property. The final ranking has shown Chemical Etching (CE) as the best SPVMRT among the selected alternatives.