• Integrated gravity, complexity and carbon assessments for PV recycling in Malaysia. • Applied AHP with twenty experts to resolve conflicting logistics and emission goals. • Identified a three-cluster national configuration as the most feasible recycling network. • Determined 8 LSS and 20 system-wide clusters for scalable collection logistics. • Provide a transferable framework for circular solar panel reverse supply chains in emerging economies. The rapid growth of solar PV in Malaysia will generate approximately 191,000 tonnes of end-of-life waste by 2051, yet lacks coordinated recycling infrastructure. This study develops an innovative extension of the SuLIDeP framework which integrating spatial gravity modelling, supply chain complexity assessment, carbon footprint analysis, and AHP expert elicitation to optimise reverse logistics and recycling facility locations for 454 Malaysian solar farms (3,218 MW total capacity). Results reveal a critical trade-off with the three-cluster configuration (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak) minimises complexity (index=0.64) for operational feasibility, while six-clusters reduce transport emissions by 18%. AHP synthesis from 20 industry experts prioritises the three cluster solution (priority score=0.42), balancing institutional capacity constraints with environmental goals. K-means analysis further identifies 8 clusters for LSS farms and 20 for all installations. Unlike conventional location models, this stakeholder-informed approach demonstrates that complexity management outweighs pure emissions optimisation in developing economies. The framework offers policymakers a transferable decision tool for circular PV waste systems, preventing landfill risks while maximising material recovery value exceeding USD 1.5 billion nationally.
Sultan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.