Performance evaluation of renewable energy R&D activities in Malaysia

Abstract

This study explores the performance of R&D activities in five renewable energy resources, namely, solar, wind, biomass, biogas, and mini hydro. The case study is Malaysia and considers the data from 2012 to 2017 in relation to two policy thrusts, namely, systematic R&D program and human capital development toward the renewable energy deployment in Malaysia. This research uses the DEA method to evaluate the efficiency of the R&D activities of renewable energy resources considering the variables in the government’s renewable energy policy. Result indicates that mini hydro is the most efficient renewable energy source in Malaysia, whereas wind is the most inefficient one from the perspective of R&D activities. Although the R&D activities related to mini hydro are few, the output of installed capacity is proportional to the input in R&D activities compared with other renewable energy resources. Wind is the most inefficient renewable energy resource due to its high R&D activities compared with those of other sources, and installed capacity is the lowest among others.