A hybrid interval rough regime framework for sustainable energy management: Optimal location selection of lithium-ion battery recovery centers

With the rapid expansion of battery-powered electric vehicles, the transportation industry is progressively moving away from fossil fuel-based combustion engines. Lithium-ion batteries have become the dominant energy storage solution due to their efficiency and reliability. However, challenges such as high production costs, scarce raw materials, and limited life cycles have intensified the need for effective recovery and recycling strategies. Determining the optimal location for a recovery center for end-of-life lithium-ion batteries presents a complex multi-criteria decision-making challenge, shaped by technical, environmental, economic, and social considerations. To address this, we introduce a hybrid decision-making framework that integrates the interval rough regime technique. The proposed methodology is structured into three key stages; first leveraging interval rough numbers to manage uncertainty and evaluate alternative performance, then the second stage is dedicated to introduce an interval rough-based logarithmic percentage change-driven as objective weighting method to determine the relative importance of criteria, and final stage presents an outranking-based interval rough regime approach to conduct pairwise comparisons and establish a comprehensive ranking of alternatives. A case study conducted in Istanbul assesses six potential locations for a lithium-ion battery recovery center, demonstrating the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed framework. The results highlight Tuzla as the most favorable location, attributed to its proximity to suppliers, well-developed transportation infrastructure, and strategic positioning. Additionally, a comparative evaluation with existing decision-making methods confirms the robustness and reliability of the findings. The proposed model offers a structured and adaptable decision-support tool for addressing complex location selection challenges in sustainable energy management. • Uncertainty in renewable energy supply chains is addressed by interval rough numbers. • A hybrid interval rough regime-based framework is proposed for recovery site selection. • An interval rough logarithmic weighting method is introduced for criteria evaluation. • Recovery center locations are sustainably optimized using outranking techniques. • Superior performance over existing methods is demonstrated by comparative analysis.