Is renewable energy more favorable to diversity than conventional energy sources on R&D performance?

Abstract

Diversity is often key to solving challenging problems. It sparks creativity through embracing various perspectives. Energy transition and climate change are challenges that require significant creativity and innovative ideas. This study is designed to analyze if diversity in the workforce has a meaningful relation to research and development (R&D) performance of public renewable energy in South Korea, and possibly, to compare the diversity of the workforce and its relation to performance between power generation industries. Using 538 public R&D projects, this study analyzed intellectual and economic performance along with workforce diversity based on gender, age, educational background, and educational level. Among several findings in this study, this study found a positive relationship between gender diversity and intellectual performance but a negative relationship between age diversity and intellectual performance. In addition, a clear distinction was found between renewable energy and nuclear and thermal power in terms of the research workforce itself and its relation to performance.