Research and Development and Investments in Renewable Energy: A Study on Power Generation Companies

ABSTRACT Spending on Research and Development (R&D) stimulates technological innovation and is necessary to coordinate renewable energy consumption and the electric power industry’s sustainable economic development. This paper analyzes whether R&D expenditures influence sustainable economic development through investments in renewable energy matrices in the electric power industry. The study was carried out with thirteen power generation companies from 2017 to 2020. The results reveal that R&D expenditures positively affect investments in renewable energy, endorsing the view that allocating resources for R&D is essential for innovation in the Brazilian electric power industry. As contributions, we highlight the importance of R&D expenditures and this area’s ability to develop solutions and technologies to allow the industry’s sustainable economic development.