A system dynamics approach to pollution remediation and mitigation based on increasing the share of renewable resources

Saleh Shadman; Christina M M Chin; Novita Sakundarini; Eng Hwa Yap; Shadreen Fairuz; Xin Yi Wong; Phahmee Ahanaf Khalid; Fatemeh Karimi; Ceren Karaman; M Mofijur; Apurav Krishna Koyande; Pau Loke Show

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.112458

A system dynamics approach to pollution remediation and mitigation based on increasing the share of renewable resources

Environ Res. 2022 Apr 1:205:112458. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112458. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, 43500, Selangor, Malaysia; EcoThinkers, House 59, Road 1, Block i, Banani, 1213, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
² Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, 43500, Selangor, Malaysia.
³ School of Robotics, XJTLU Entrepreneur College (Taicang), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
⁴ School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, 43500, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁶ Department of Chemical Engineering, Quchan University of Technology, Quchan, Iran.
⁷ Akdeniz University, Department of Electricity and Energy, Antalya, 07070, Turkey.
⁸ Centre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; Mechanical Engineering Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Khobar, 31952, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, 43500, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: apoorvkoyande@gmail.com.
¹⁰ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih, 43500, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: PauLoke.Show@nottingham.edu.my.

PMID: 34863687
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112458

Abstract

This study explores the role of renewable energy (RE) penetration in Malaysia's energy security (ES) and its implications for the country's target of 20% capacity in the energy mix by 2025. Renewable energy (RE) is a critical driver of long-term energy security. In 2018, the share of renewable energy in Malaysia's energy mix was 9%, falling far short of the national target of 20% penetration by 2025. This study employs a system dynamics approach to investigate the relationship between RE penetration and correlated indicators from energy security (ES) dimensions: energy availability, environmental sustainability, and socio-economics. The causal relationships between the three-dimensional indicators of ES have been established using causal and stock and flow logic. Simulated results show that energy consumption has increased sharply, while energy efficiency and economic growth have only increased by a small margin with an increase in RE from 2015 to 2020. The energy intensity is expected to rise slightly by the end of the fifth year. As a result, the overall impact is positive for Malaysia's environmental sustainability while reducing its reliance on energy imports and meeting national economic growth demands.

Keywords: Economic health; Efficiency; Energy intensity; Energy security; Renewable energy; System dynamics.

MeSH terms

Carbon Dioxide* / analysis
Economic Development
Environmental Restoration and Remediation*
Renewable Energy

Substances

Carbon Dioxide