IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v219y2023ip1s0960148123013320.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How does green finance affect energy efficiency? The role of green technology innovation and energy structure

Author

Listed:
  • Lee, Chien-Chiang
  • Wang, Chang-song
  • He, Zhiwen
  • Xing, Wen-wu
  • Wang, Keying

Abstract

As climate warming intensifies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions has become a national consensus for many countries. Green finance plays an important role in promoting energy efficiency and lowering such emissions, but there is scant literature that analyzes the impacts and mechanisms of green finance on energy efficiency. Based on China's provincial panel data from 2010 to 2018, this research measures the green finance index using the panel entropy weighting method and systematically evaluates the relationship between green finance and energy efficiency using the fixed-effects model. The results show the following. (1) Green finance significantly contributes to energy efficiency and remains the same after a series of robustness tests such as endogeneity treatment, replacement of explanatory and interpreted variables, and replacement of regression models. (2) Green technology innovation and energy structure optimization are the transmission mechanism of green finance for energy efficiency, which means that green finance improves energy efficiency by promoting green technology innovation and energy structure optimization. (3) There is regional heterogeneity, temporal heterogeneity, and industry heterogeneity in the impact of green finance on energy efficiency. The positive effects of green finance on energy efficiency are more pronounced in resource-dependent regions, regions with irrational industrial structure, north regions, industrial sectors, and after 2013. The conclusions of this paper offer some policy recommendations, including promoting the development of green finance, building a cooperation platform for green finance and technological innovation, enhancing the depth and breadth of renewable energy utilization, and building differentiated green finance strategies according to local conditions.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chang-song & He, Zhiwen & Xing, Wen-wu & Wang, Keying, 2023. "How does green finance affect energy efficiency? The role of green technology innovation and energy structure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:219:y:2023:i:p1:s0960148123013320
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119417
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148123013320
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2023.119417?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Khan, Saleheen & Tahir, Mohammad Iqbal, 2013. "The dynamic links between energy consumption, economic growth, financial development and trade in China: Fresh evidence from multivariate framework analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 8-21.
    2. Sun, Yunpeng & Guan, Weimin & Cao, Yuning & Bao, Qun, 2022. "Role of green finance policy in renewable energy deployment for carbon neutrality: Evidence from China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 643-653.
    3. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chang-song, 2022. "Does natural resources matter for sustainable energy development in China: The role of technological progress," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Song, Malin & Xie, Qianjiao & Shen, Zhiyang, 2021. "Impact of green credit on high-efficiency utilization of energy in China considering environmental constraints," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. Alam, Md. Mahmudul & Murad, Md. Wahid, 2020. "The impacts of economic growth, trade openness and technological progress on renewable energy use in organization for economic co-operation and development countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 382-390.
    6. Tenaw, Dagmawe, 2022. "Do traditional energy dependence, income, and education matter in the dynamic linkage between clean energy transition and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 204-213.
    7. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Zhao, Ya-Nan, 2023. "Heterogeneity analysis of factors influencing CO2 emissions: The role of human capital, urbanization, and FDI," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    8. Lu, Yuchen & Gao, Yuqiang & Zhang, Yu & Wang, Junrong, 2022. "Can the green finance policy force the green transformation of high-polluting enterprises? A quasi-natural experiment based on “Green Credit Guidelines”," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    9. Isaac Akomea-Frimpong & David Adeabah & Deborah Ofosu & Emmanuel Junior Tenakwah, 2022. "A review of studies on green finance of banks, research gaps and future directions," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 1241-1264, October.
    10. Su, Zhifang & Guo, Qianqian & Lee, Hsiang-Tai, 2022. "Green finance policy and enterprise energy consumption intensity: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    11. Li, Jiaman & Dong, Xiucheng & Dong, Kangyin, 2022. "How much does financial inclusion contribute to renewable energy growth? Ways to realize green finance in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 760-771.
    12. Mingzhe Yu & Qiang Zhou & Mui Yee Cheok & Jakub Kubiczek & Nadeem Iqbal, 2022. "Does green finance improve energy efficiency? New evidence from developing and developed economies," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(1), pages 485-509, February.
    13. Li, Wei & Cao, Ning & Xiang, Zejia, 2023. "Drivers of renewable energy transition: The role of ICT, human development, financialization, and R&D investment in China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 441-450.
    14. Wei, Xiaobo & Mohsin, Muhammad & Zhang, Qiongxin, 2022. "Role of foreign direct investment and economic growth in renewable energy development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 828-837.
    15. Wang, Rongji & Laila, Ume & Nazir, Rabia & Hao, Xibin, 2023. "Unleashing the influence of industrialization and trade openness on renewable energy intensity using path model analysis: A roadmap towards sustainable development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 280-288.
    16. Yao, Xing & Yasmeen, Rizwana & Hussain, Jamal & Hassan Shah, Wasi Ul, 2021. "The repercussions of financial development and corruption on energy efficiency and ecological footprint: Evidence from BRICS and next 11 countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    17. Wang, Quan-Jing & Tang, Kai & Hu, Hai-Qing, 2022. "The impact of digital finance on green innovation: Evidence from provinces in China," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 1(1).
    18. Appiah-Otoo, Isaac & Chen, Xudong & Ampah, Jeffrey Dankwa, 2023. "Does financial structure affect renewable energy consumption? Evidence from G20 countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    19. Lv, Chengchao & Shao, Changhua & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2021. "Green technology innovation and financial development: Do environmental regulation and innovation output matter?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    20. Guosong Wu, 2023. "Research on the spatial impact and coupling coordination of green finance on the ecological development of China’s economy," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 3353-3381, October.
    21. Linnenluecke, Martina K. & Smith, Tom & McKnight, Brent, 2016. "Environmental finance: A research agenda for interdisciplinary finance research," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 124-130.
    22. Zhang, Dongyang & Mohsin, Muhammad & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad, 2022. "Does green finance counteract the climate change mitigation: Asymmetric effect of renewable energy investment and R&D," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    23. Wencong, Lu & Kasimov, Ikboljon & Saydaliev, Hayot Berk, 2023. "Foreign direct investment and renewable energy: Examining the environmental Kuznets curve in resource-rich transition economies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 301-310.
    24. Clark, Robyn & Reed, James & Sunderland, Terry, 2018. "Bridging funding gaps for climate and sustainable development: Pitfalls, progress and potential of private finance," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 335-346.
    25. Liu, Qingrui & Tang, Lu, 2022. "Research on the accelerating effect of green finance on the transformation of energy consumption in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    26. Arshian Sharif & Najia Saqib & Kangyin Dong & Syed Abdul Rehman Khan, 2022. "Nexus between green technology innovation, green financing, and CO2 emissions in the G7 countries: The moderating role of social globalisation," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1934-1946, December.
    27. Dong, Kangyin & Taghizadeh-Hesary, Farhad & Zhao, Jun, 2022. "How inclusive financial development eradicates energy poverty in China? The role of technological innovation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Qin, Meng & Zhang, Xiaojing & Li, Yameng & Badarcea, Roxana Maria, 2023. "Blockchain market and green finance: The enablers of carbon neutrality in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    2. Kuang, Hewu & Liang, Yiyan & Zhao, Wenjia & Cai, Jiahong, 2023. "Impact of natural resources and technology on economic development and sustainable environment – Analysis of resources-energy-growth-environment linkages in BRICS," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    3. Xue, Yan & Hu, Dongmei & Irfan, Muhammad & Wu, Haitao & Hao, Yu, 2023. "Natural resources policy making through finance? The role of green finance on energy resources poverty," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    4. Li, Songran & Shao, Qinglong, 2022. "Greening the finance for climate mitigation: An ARDL–ECM approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 1469-1481.
    5. Lee, Chi-Chuan & Song, Hepeng & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2023. "Assessing the effect of green finance on energy inequality in China via household-level analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Luo, Shunjun & Chishti, Muhammad Zubair & Beata, Szetela & Xie, Peijun, 2024. "Digital sparks for a greener future: Unleashing the potential of information and communication technologies in green energy transition," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    7. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    8. Mohamed Ahmed Suliman & Ahmed Hassan Abdou & Moatazbellah Farid Ibrahim & Dayal Ali Waheer Al-Khaldy & Ashraf Mohamed Anas & Wael Mohamed Mahmoud Alrefae & Wagih Salama, 2023. "Impact of Green Transformational Leadership on Employees’ Environmental Performance in the Hotel Industry Context: Does Green Work Engagement Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, February.
    9. Du, Juntao & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & Zhang, Linda, 2023. "Nexus between digital transformation and energy technology innovation: An empirical test of A-share listed enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    10. Tian, Jinfang & Sun, Siyang & Cao, Wei & Bu, Di & Xue, Rui, 2024. "Make every dollar count: The impact of green credit regulation on corporate green investment efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Rafael Ninno Muniz & Carlos Tavares da Costa Júnior & William Gouvêa Buratto & Ademir Nied & Gabriel Villarrubia González, 2023. "The Sustainability Concept: A Review Focusing on Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, September.
    12. Puxin Liu, 2023. "An assessment of financial mechanisms for green financial recovery and climate change mitigation: the case of China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1567-1584, June.
    13. Huang, Hongyun & Mbanyele, William & Wang, Fengrong & Zhang, Chenxi & Zhao, Xin, 2023. "Nudging corporate environmental responsibility through green finance? Quasi-natural experimental evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    14. Du, Juntao & Shen, Zhiyang & Song, Malin & Vardanyan, Michael, 2023. "The role of green financing in facilitating renewable energy transition in China: Perspectives from energy governance, environmental regulation, and market reforms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    15. Yu, Huaying & Wei, Wei & Li, Jinhe & Li, Ying, 2022. "The impact of green digital finance on energy resources and climate change mitigation in carbon neutrality: Case of 60 economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chang-song, 2022. "Financial development, technological innovation and energy security: Evidence from Chinese provincial experience," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    17. Goshu Desalegn & Anita Tangl, 2022. "Enhancing Green Finance for Inclusive Green Growth: A Systematic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, June.
    18. Chu, Lan Khanh, 2024. "Towards achieving energy transition goal: How do green financial policy, environmental tax, economic complexity, and globalization matter?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    19. An, Xin & Ding, Yue & Wang, Yao, 2023. "Green credit and bank risk: Does corporate social responsibility matter?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    20. Alfalih, Abdulaziz Abdulmohsen & Hadj, Tarek Bel, 2022. "Financialization, natural resources rents and environmental sustainability dynamics in Saudi Arabia under high and low regimes," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:219:y:2023:i:p1:s0960148123013320. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.