The Journal of Grey System ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6): 28-39.

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Prioritizing Barriers and Potential Solutions for Solar Energy Development in China: A dynamic Grey Relational Analysis and TOPSIS Approach#br#

  

  1. 1. Institute for Grey System Studies, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211106, P.R. China
    2. Center of Grey System Studies, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710129, P.R. China
    3. Jinshen College, Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, P.R. China
  • Online:2025-12-01 Published:2025-12-29
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by a long-term project of National Major Talent Plan of China (Grant No. YQR20024); a project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.72071111); a project of Intelligence Introduction base of the Ministry of Science and Technology (Grant No. G2021181014L); and an original Exploration Project of the Central University Research and Innovation Fund (Grant No. ILA220721A23). At the same time, the authors would like to acknowledge the partial support of the Fundamental Research Funds for the Excellent Innovation Team of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Grant No. [2022]2-22).

Abstract: Among various renewable energy sources, solar energy is particularly attractive due to its abundance in China. However, several barriers hinder the development of solar energy in the country. This study followed a systematic approach to identify country-specific barriers and corresponding solutions. A total of 17 barriers were identified and categorized into six groups: technical, economic, social, political, institutional, and environmental. To overcome these barriers, six potential solutions were proposed. The dynamic grey relational analysis (dynamic GRA) approach was then applied to evaluate and prioritize these barriers, and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach was used to assess the potential solutions. The dynamic GRA approach revealed that “high initial capital costs” and “energy storage challenges” in the economic and technical groups are the most significant barriers to
solar energy development in China. Meanwhile, the TOPSIS approach indicated that “financial and economic incentives” and “regulatory and policy reforms” are the most effective solutions to these barriers. This study is the first to incorporate environmental factors and apply the dynamic GRA to evaluate barriers to solar energy development. The findings provide important insights and practical recommendations for energy professionals and policymakers.

Key words:  , Solar energy, Sustainable energy solutions,Dynamic grey relational analysis, TOPSIS