Sustainability evaluation of six renewable energy types in China using fucom and mahalanobis distance topsis

Abstract

Renewable energy development is crucial for addressing ener
gy security and climate change, yet it faces challenges such as 
low energy density, high costs, and policy gaps. To enhance de
cision-making, this study proposes a novel sustainability evalua
tion framework combining the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) 
and Mahalanobis distance-based TOPSIS, tailored to account for 
renewable energy characteristics like resource availability and re
newability. Focusing on China, we assess six renewable energy ty
pes (solar, wind, hydraulic, biomass, geothermal, and ocean) using 
21 third-level indicators weighted via FUCOM. Results indicate 
high sustainability for solar, wind, and hydraulic energy, while bio
mass, geothermal, and ocean energy exhibit weaker sustainability 
due to technological and resource constraints. This approach not 
only differentiates from traditional fossil fuel assessments but also 
provides actionable insights for policymakers to prioritize resource 
allocation and optimize renewable energy strategies.