Circular economy-based assessment framework for enhancing sustainability in renewable energy development with life cycle considerations

Development of renewable energy (RE) resources is currently facing some challenges related to the scarcity of materials stems from the limited availability of certain materials and growing waste generation. A comprehensive assessment encompassing these challenges of RE resources presents an effective solution to proactively mitigate these challenges. The circular economy (CE) approach emerges as a valuable strategy to address such concerns. Therefore, this study aims to construct a CE-based assessment framework to evaluate RE resources with a sustainability approach. Drawing upon the principles of redesign, reduction, and recycling, the proposed assessment framework embraces a CE mindset, considering the entire life cycle of RE resources. First, a practical and comprehensive, criterion-referenced evaluation framework based on the CE approach was created for the RE resources. Next, the trustiness of the panel of experts was assessed using social network analysis based on the mutual trust values of experts. Then, a modern combination method was established to assign weights to the criteria concerned using integrating FBWM and eMEREC methodologies to benefit the advantages of the objective and subjective approaches, respectively. After that, the measurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution methodology derived from the cumulative prospect theory was developed to sort the alternatives. The integrity and accuracy of the framework were finally tested on the Belt and Road Initiative countries. The study results revealed that the best alternatives were vary in different countries through the study region based on the domestic conditions. Accordingly, the sensitivity of the proposed framework was analyzed to verify such results. The policy implications were further provided for the two most frequent resources (solar and wind) to recommend policymakers to support the RE development with the CE approach. •The circular economy (CE) was elaborated to evaluate renewable energy resources.•The 3R model assessment system (Redesign, Reduce, and Recycle) was established.•A novel multi-stage MCDM evaluation framework had been constructed.•Belt and Road Initiative countries were analyzed as a case study.•Policy suggestions according to the CE were provided for sustainable RE development.