China, the world's greatest emitter of greenhouse gases, has committed to reaching peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. One strategy to accomplish this aim is switching to a low-carbon economy via advancing renewable energy (RE) projects. Therefore, this study focuses on solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower and examines the beneficial employment effects of RE projects in China. The study uses fuzzy-based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodologies, such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS), to evaluate numerous employment effect criteria and sub-criteria. Based on these evaluations, the report prioritizes four main types of RE projects. According to the fuzzy AHP technique results, direct employment, skill requirements, and local employment are the most crucial employment effect factors. The study then employed the fuzzy WASPAS approach to assessing various RE initiatives' employment prospects. According to the findings, hydropower is the best choice for creating jobs, followed by wind and solar power initiatives. In recent years, the hydro, wind, and solar power industries have experienced rapid expansion, creating numerous job possibilities in production, installation, operation, and maintenance. Additionally, creating RE projects can boost regional economic growth and lessen poverty.
Keywords: Fuzzy AHP; Fuzzy WASPAS; Low-carbon economy; Renewable energy; Sustainable development; employment impacts.
© 2023 The Authors.