A Multicriteria Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Mass Solar Photovoltaic Farms in Pulau Burung, Pulau Pinang

Abstract. The proliferation of mass solar photovoltaic (LSSPV) farming has been catalyzed by the escalating costs of fossil fuels and the imposition of carbon pricing, rendering solar energy an increasingly compelling alternative. Nevertheless, significant impediments, including land scarcity, ecological ramifications, and stringent regulatory frameworks, continue to constrain its widespread implementation. This study undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for an LSSPV project in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) within a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) paradigm to systematically assess its environmental implications. The investigation elucidates a spectrum of critical environmental concerns, encompassing land-use transformations, biodiversity attrition, hydrological perturbations, and the latent risks of chemical contamination. 10 stakeholder analyses delineate ecological degradation and terrestrial alterations as paramount issues, succeeded by hydrological destabilization attributable to surface runoff and the potential hazards posed by chemical constituents within photovoltaic components. The findings substantiate the implementation of mitigation strategies, including rigorous environmental surveillance and the adoption of sustainable land management practices, to attenuate deleterious consequences. Empirical survey data reveal a dichotomy of perspectives, wherein 29% of stakeholders contend that residential proximity to LSSPV installations engenders substantive risks to both environmental integrity and public health, whereas a majority of 71% refute such assertions, perceiving no discernible environmental or health-related perils. The AHP model serves as an intricate evaluative mechanism, synthesizing heterogeneous stakeholder insights to enhance the optimization of sustainability