A bibliometric assessment of energy research in South Africa
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Date
Authors
Pouris, Anastassios
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
The results of an effort to identify the performance of energy and fuels research in South Africa during the
most recent period (2003–2013) are reported. Bibliometric approaches have been employed in order to
assess the field of energy research. Energy research was identified to be improving over time, albeit from
a small basis. The field appears to equally emphasise fossil and renewable energy research. Similarly,
universities were identified to be producing a subcritical number of energy articles in comparison with
international organisations. The relatively small activity in the energy field appears to affect the international
collaboration of the field, which is well below the national average. International comparisons in terms of
articles per GWH of electricity produced and articles per million population show that South Africa should
increase substantially its effort in the field in order to be comparable with other countries.
SIGNIFICANCE :
• This article makes a unique contribution in scientometrics to the field of energy research in South Africa
which, given its multidisciplinary nature, is a generally neglected field of study in South Africa.
Description
Keywords
Scientometrics, State of field, Fuels research, Indicators, Energy research
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Pouris A. A bibliometric
assessment of energy
research in South Africa. S Afr
J Sci. 2016; 112(11/12),
Art. #2016-0054, 8 pages.
http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.17159/sajs.2016/20160054.