Rural energy transition in the context of rural revitalization and carbon neutrality: improved multi-criteria-based decision-making

The Chinese government has proposed new standards for the rural energy consumption structure in the context of rural regeneration. In the case where traditional energy still dominates the rural energy consumption structure, it is critical to investigate the key factors influencing rural energy transformation against the backdrop of rural revitalization in order to promote the transition from traditional to clean energy in rural areas. To identify the influential aspects, this paper conducts a literature analysis and an expert evaluation. Second, the decision-making experiment and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique is improved by studying the 24 influencing elements and their hierarchical relationships using the type-2 interval fuzzy number (IT2TrFN) and the maximum mean-decreasing entropy (MMDE) approach. A novel multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model is developed to give a theoretical foundation and recommendations for decision-making in areas such as rural energy policy formulation. The following are the primary conclusions: Energy technology service workers are the most profound factors, with the most driving force and dependence, and have the greatest impact on other factors. Environmental attitudes, perceptions, and societal green expectations are highly dependent and low-driver characteristics that are easily influenced by other factors. Based on this, related recommendations are made to encourage the advancement of rural clean energy as a replacement for traditional energy.