Multi-criteria decision making for comprehensive benefits assessment of photovoltaic poverty alleviation project under sustainability perspective: A case study in Yunnan, China

Photovoltaic poverty alleviation is an important way to help people get rid of poverty in China. Evaluating the comprehensive benefits of photovoltaic poverty alleviation project (PPAP) is significant to the closed-loop management of projects and the formulation of future poverty alleviation action. From the perspective of sustainability, this article proposes a comprehensive benefits evaluation framework for PPAP. The 13 sub-criteria are identified and determined from four aspects: economy, technology, society, and environment, forming the evaluation index system. The triangular intuitionistic fuzzy number (TIFN) and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) are introduced to calculate the weight of indexes. And the improved matter-element extension method (MEEM) with cloud model is conducted to obtain the final results. With an application in four projects in Yunnan province, the feasibility of the decision framework has been proved. The result shows that the comprehensive benefits of PPAP in Yunnan are generally at a good level, and the PPAPs have the potential for further development. Finally, the specific measures to improve the PPAP's performance are given. The study could state the effectiveness of the project in poverty alleviation and provide management support to its sustainable development in rural revitalization.