Institute of Energy Policy and Research (IEPRe)

Research Institute

THE INSTITUTE OF ENERGY POLICY AND RESEARCH (IEPRe)

Overview

The Institute of Energy Policy and Research (IEPRe) at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) is a specialised research institute dedicated to advancing high-impact scholarship at the nexus of energy systems, economics, regulation, and sustainability. Established in 2009, IEPRe was created to respond to the growing complexity of Malaysia’s evolving energy landscape and the broader Asia-Pacific energy transition.

IEPRe’s research integrates engineering intelligence with economic modelling, regulatory analysis, and policy design to generate evidence-based insights for the Energy and Electricity Supply Industry (ESI). The Institute focuses on both supply-side and demand-side dynamics, including tariff design, long-term energy planning, market reform, energy security, climate policy modelling, and techno-economic evaluation of energy systems.

Collaboration and Engagement

Anchored within UNITEN, a university closely linked to Tenaga Nasional Berhad, IEPRe operates within a uniquely positioned ecosystem that combines academic rigour with real-world industry access. The Institute has historically engaged with key stakeholders including the Energy Commission and the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, reinforcing its role as a credible research and policy advisory platform.

IEPRe actively promotes international collaboration through:

Joint research grants and multi-country comparative studies
Energy system and climate modelling partnerships
Academic exchange and visiting scholar programmes
PhD supervision and co-publication initiatives
Policy roundtables and research dissemination forums

The Institute welcomes collaboration with global universities, research centres, funding bodies, and international organisations seeking to advance applied, policy-relevant, and interdisciplinary research in energy transition, market reform, and sustainable development.

Vision

To be a premier energy policy research institute in Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Mission

To conduct independent research and contribute towards capacity building in energy and environment issues relevant to the country's socio-economic goals, which will benefit the public, government, regulators, industry, academia and relevant stakeholders.

Our Research

At the Institute of Energy Policy and Research (IEPRe), our research is structured around six integrated focus areas that collectively address the economic, regulatory, environmental, and social dimensions of the energy transition. Our work is designed to support evidence-based policymaking, strengthen market efficiency, and advance sustainable energy development at national and regional levels.

Research Areas

Energy Economics
- Economics of Fuel Supply Chain Management
- Modelling Competitive Pricing Mechanism of Energy Source
- Economics Value of Renewable Sources of Energy Versus Conventional Fossil Fuel
- Optimal Fuel Mix

Energy Securities
- Long term Energy Planning
- Alternative Fuel Mix / Procurement / Transportation
- Fuel mix in Power Generation
- Coal Supply Chain Management
- Logistic of Fuel Management

Energy Policy
- Regulatory Framework towards Sustainable Development
- Supply and Demand Side Management
- Deregulation of Energy Market
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Energy & Environment
- Sustainable development and Climate Change study
- Low Carbon Economy
- Efficient Transport Sector
- Waste Management
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory
- Green Technology

Energy & Social Sustainability
- Green Economy
- Social Policy Research
- Social Transformation towards Sustainable Communities
Energy Supply Industry
- Energy Market
- Auxiliary Services
- Capacity Market
- Net Energy Metering
- Cross Border Energy Trading

Research Facilities and Services

The Institute of Energy Policy and Research (IEPRe) serves as the policy and economics pillar of UNITEN’s Energy & Sustainability cluster, translating technical energy innovation into actionable regulatory, economic, and strategic frameworks.

Positioned at the convergence of engineering systems, market structures, and sustainability governance, IEPRe strengthens UNITEN’s ecosystem by:

Providing economic and policy intelligence to complement technical energy research
Provide financial modeling coursework
Supporting evidence-based regulatory and market design
Advancing interdisciplinary research on energy transition and climate resilience
Developing national and regional expertise in energy economics and modelling
Bridging academia, industry, and government through a think-tank model

Within UNITEN’s broader Energy & Sustainability agenda, IEPRe ensures that technological advancement is matched by robust policy design, financial viability analysis, and socio-economic alignment — enabling Malaysia and the Asia-Pacific region to pursue energy security, sustainability, and competitiveness in an increasingly complex global energy environment.