Measuring Energy Independence Efficiency of BRICS Member Countries Using Data Envelopment Analysis

In terms of international relations, the efficiency of energy management has a critical importance in the power balance of countries. This research aims to measure the efficiency of energy independence of the nine BRICS member countries. In the context of, firstly, the concepts related to energy management were examined. Then, the database that belongs to nine BRICS member countries, five input variables (Population, GDP Growth Rate, Total Consumption/GDP, CO2 Emissions, and Rate of T&D Power Losses), and one output variable (Energy Independence) were analyzed using the Data Envelopment Analysis. During the analysis, the Input Oriented BCC (VRS) Model, one of the Data Envelopment Analyses, was used. According to the results of the analysis, seven BRICS member countries (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates) were determined as efficient. The Reference Sets were defined and Improvement Suggestions were presented so that inefficient BRICS member countries can become efficient. Brazil, China, Ethiopia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates have appeared once in these Reference Sets. Egypt and Russia have not appeared in any Reference Set. It is thought that this research will provide a quantitative perspective on the energy management discipline with its findings, such as efficient/inefficient countries, Reference Sets, and improvement options of inputs/outputs.