Evaluating the enablers in solar power developments in the current scenario using fuzzy DEMATEL: An Indian perspective

Determining solar power initiatives and developments for a country as large as India is difficult due to the involvement of different enablers. The decisions of these enablers will influence the formulation of strategies to encourage solar power development in India. The present research work critically analyzes Indian solar power developments to recognize and to evaluate key enablers that will encourage greater usage in India's current scenario. A literature review that explores the Indian solar power sector is included, with a focus on need potential, and an examination of the key enablers. This work identifies sixteen solar power enablers based on relevant literature and experts' inputs. To evaluate and to categorize the recognized solar power development key enablers, a fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) based methodology is utilized. The fuzzy DEMATEL approach is useful in dealing with the inherent ambiguity involved in studying interrelationships among the evaluated enablers. Research findings suggest that Initiatives taken at the state level (E7) and Power sector reforms (E12) have significant influence in adopting and encouraging India's solar power development. In this research, the enablers' causal relationships and their interactions are examined, and the findings are useful to encourage solar power development initiatives and decisions. This work will help policymakers formulate decisions to initiate and encourage solar power developments in India. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.