A spherical fuzzy multi criteria decision making framework for assessing barriers and prioritising policies for solar energy implementation in India

India has grown increasingly dependent on imported foreign fossil fuels to fuel an expanding population and economy, thereby placing considerable strain on the economy, society, and environment. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is necessary for India to continue developing and prospering as a nation in the future. One approach to realize energy goals (SDG-7) for India and assist it in transitioning to renewable energy is using photovoltaic (PV) technology. Despite having gained significant traction in India, many barrierss still exist beyond improving effectiveness. A systematic approach will be presented in this paper to overcome these barriers using the spherical fuzzy (SF) technique for decision-making. The SF decision-making technique is designed to help reduce uncertainty when making decisions and to minimize bias when evaluating procedures and regulations related to solar energy. To support the SF framework proposed, three different methodologies will be utilized: SF-SWARA for determining subjective criterion weights; SF-CRITIC for finding objective weights; and SF-CODAS for ranking strategic alternatives. Based on a literature review and recommendations from the authors, twelve main barriers will be identified and ranked according to their relative importance in achieving success with PV technology in India. Furthermore, it is suggested that funding be allocated for additional research and development to boost domestic production of PV equipment. An evaluation of the proposed methodology confirms its reliability, particularly through comprehensive sensitivity analysis. The authors provide thorough evidence to support the recommendation of using this methodology to evaluate the expected economic and environmental impacts of PV technology in India.