Economic Analysis Study on the R&D Effect of Performance Improvement of the Tri-generation Fuel Cell System

Abstract

Considering the recent substantial increase in national research and development (R&D) budgets in the energy sector there has been increased Interest in the effectiveness of government R&D investments. We conducted a case study to calculate the allowable scale and effectiveness of R&D investment by calculating the direct performance improvement effect resulting from R&D investment as an economic value. Using conditions that existed prior to R&D investments as a reference, five cases in which performance improved due to R&D investments were compared and analyzed. The government’s financial investment is increasing rapidly in line with the establishment of the national hydrogen roadmap. R&D is needed to enhance the current low technology readiness level of hydrogen fuel cells compared to solar and wind energy fields. Therefore, an R&D project to improve the performance of the fuel cell system was selected as this case study’s subject. Using the results in this study, the allowable level of investment in the task unit of national R&D projects could be calculated. Moreover, it is advisable to provide a standard for rational decision making for new R&D investments since it is possible to determine investment priorities among a large number of candidates.