IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/asiaps/v12y2025i2ne70015.html

Does the Digital Economy Promote Renewable Energy?—Evidence From a Cross‐National Sample

Author

Listed:
  • Lin liu
  • Jing Liu
  • Jianing Zhang
  • Yiyang Zhao

Abstract

Renewable energy is one of the key factors in mitigating climate change and achieving sustainable development. With digital technology at its core, the digital economy has gradually become a new driving force for renewable energy development. However, few studies have examined the impact of the digital economy on renewable energy from a global perspective and explored the transmission mechanisms. Based on the cross‐country data of 68 countries (regions) from 2013 to 2021, this paper adopts a panel model to study the impacts of the digital economy on renewable energy. The results show that (1) digital economy has a positive impact on renewable energy; (2) the impact of digital economy on renewable energy is asymmetric and heterogeneous; (3) the impact of digital economy on renewable energy development has obvious threshold characteristics; (4) digital economy indirectly affects renewable energy through technological innovation and financial development. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for promoting renewable energy development and a reference and guidance for countries to realize sustainable development in the context of the digital economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin liu & Jing Liu & Jianing Zhang & Yiyang Zhao, 2025. "Does the Digital Economy Promote Renewable Energy?—Evidence From a Cross‐National Sample," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaps:v:12:y:2025:i:2:n:e70015
    DOI: 10.1002/app5.70015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.70015
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/app5.70015?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ruiyang Ma & Boqiang Lin, 2023. "Digital infrastructure construction drives green economic transformation: evidence from Chinese cities," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Lin, Boqiang & Huang, Chenchen, 2023. "How will promoting the digital economy affect electricity intensity?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Duch-Brown, Néstor & Rossetti, Fiammetta, 2020. "Digital platforms across the European regional energy markets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    4. Ndikumana, Leonce, 2005. "Financial development, financial structure, and domestic investment: International evidence," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 651-673, June.
    5. Liu, Wenfeng & Zhang, Xingping & Feng, Sida, 2019. "Does renewable energy policy work? Evidence from a panel data analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 635-642.
    6. Bhattacharya, Mita & Inekwe, John & Yan, Eric, 2021. "Dynamics of energy poverty: Evidence from nonparametric estimates across the ASEAN+6 region," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    7. Nicholas Apergis & James E. Payne, 2014. "The causal dynamics between renewable energy, real GDP, emissions and oil prices: evidence from OECD countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(36), pages 4519-4525, December.
    8. Faran Ahmed & Muhammad Naeem & Muhammad Iqbal, 2017. "ICT and renewable energy: a way forward to the next generation telecom base stations," Telecommunication Systems: Modelling, Analysis, Design and Management, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 43-56, January.
    9. Sadorsky, Perry, 2009. "Renewable energy consumption and income in emerging economies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 4021-4028, October.
    10. Luo, Jiahui & Dong, Jingrong & Tan, Zhixiong & Zhang, Haitao & Zhang, Wenqing, 2024. "Relatedness, digital economy and renewable energy product evolution—based on product space perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    11. Peter, Jakob, 2019. "How does climate change affect electricity system planning and optimal allocation of variable renewable energy?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    12. Wüstenhagen, Rolf & Menichetti, Emanuela, 2012. "Strategic choices for renewable energy investment: Conceptual framework and opportunities for further research," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 1-10.
    13. Khan, Khalid & Su, Chi Wei & Rehman, Ashfaq U. & Ullah, Rahman, 2022. "Is technological innovation a driver of renewable energy?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    14. Lichao Wu & David C. Broadstock, 2015. "Does economic, financial and institutional development matter for renewable energy consumption? Evidence from emerging economies," International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(1), pages 20-39.
    15. Qin, Yong & Xu, Zeshui & Luo, Chaoguang & Skare, Marinko, 2024. "Investigating the nexus among resource curse, energy transition and sustainable development: Evidence from a global panel data," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    16. Boza, Pal & Evgeniou, Theodoros, 2021. "Artificial intelligence to support the integration of variable renewable energy sources to the power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    17. Yildizbasi, Abdullah, 2021. "Blockchain and renewable energy: Integration challenges in circular economy era," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 183-197.
    18. James E. Foster & Miguel Székely, 2008. "Is Economic Growth Good For The Poor? Tracking Low Incomes Using General Means," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 49(4), pages 1143-1172, November.
    19. Thang Nam Do, 2024. "Insider perspectives on Southeast Asiaʼs clean energy transition," Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), May.
    20. George E. Halkos & Michael L. Polemis, 2017. "Does Financial Development Affect Environmental Degradation? Evidence from the OECD Countries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1162-1180, December.
    21. Saint Akadiri, Seyi & Alola, Andrew Adewale & Akadiri, Ada Chigozie & Alola, Uju Violet, 2019. "Renewable energy consumption in EU-28 countries: Policy toward pollution mitigation and economic sustainability," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 803-810.
    22. Kingsley Ukoba & Kehinde O. Olatunji & Eyitayo Adeoye & Tien-Chien Jen & Daniel M. Madyira, 2024. "Optimizing renewable energy systems through artificial intelligence: Review and future prospects," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(7), pages 3833-3879, November.
    23. Jiao, Jianling & Song, Jiangfeng & Ding, Tao, 2024. "The impact of synergistic development of renewable energy and digital economy on energy intensity: Evidence from 33 countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    24. Huang, Chenchen & Lin, Boqiang, 2024. "How digital economy index selection and model uncertainty will affect energy green transition," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(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. Guo, Wen & Yang, Bo & Ji, Jiong & Liu, Xiaorui, 2023. "Green finance development drives renewable energy development: Mechanism analysis and empirical research," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    2. Zheng, Mingbo & Zhang, Xinyu, 2025. "Digitalization and renewable energy development: Analysis based on cross-country panel data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    3. Rafiq, Muhammad Umair & Saleem, Shaham & Bashir, Hafsa & Shafqat, Faiqa, 2025. "Navigating the energy crisis: Unveiling the determinants of renewable energy investment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    4. Croutzet, Alexandre & Dabbous, Amal, 2021. "Do FinTech trigger renewable energy use? Evidence from OECD countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1608-1617.
    5. Uzar, Umut, 2020. "Political economy of renewable energy: Does institutional quality make a difference in renewable energy consumption?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 591-603.
    6. Ge, Tao & Ding, Ziqi & Lu, Xiaoya & Yang, Keling, 2023. "Spillover effect of energy intensity targets on renewable energy consumption in China: A spatial econometric approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    7. Wu, Lang & Shi, Junwei, 2025. "From peer influence to green cognition: How digital transformation fosters renewable energy innovation in manufacturing," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    8. Debnath, Pabitra & Dinda, Soumyananda, 2026. "Driving factors of renewable energy consumption growth: Dynamic panel data analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PE).
    9. Bourcet, Clémence, 2020. "Empirical determinants of renewable energy deployment: A systematic literature review," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    10. Sui, Bo & Sharma, Susan Sunila & Yao, Liu-Yang & Ni, Guo-Hua & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2024. "Does aging affect renewable energy? The role of extreme events and economic development," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    11. Haitao Hou & Wei Lu & Bing Liu & Zeina Hassanein & Hamid Mahmood & Samia Khalid, 2023. "Exploring the Role of Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy in Determining Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from OECD Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, January.
    12. Alvarez-Herranz, Agustin & Balsalobre-Lorente, Daniel & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Cantos, José María, 2017. "Energy innovation and renewable energy consumption in the correction of air pollution levels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 386-397.
    13. Alola, Andrew Adewale & Akadiri, Seyi Saint, 2021. "Clean energy development in the United States amidst augmented socioeconomic aspects and country-specific policies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 221-230.
    14. Shahnazi, Rouhollah & Dehghan Shabani, Zahra, 2020. "Do renewable energy production spillovers matter in the EU?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 786-796.
    15. Daniela Nicoleta Sahlian & Adriana Florina Popa & Raluca Florentina Creţu, 2021. "Does the Increase in Renewable Energy Influence GDP Growth? An EU-28 Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    16. Krzysztof Bartczak & Stanisław Łobejko, 2022. "The Implementation Environment for a Digital Technology Platform of Renewable Energy Sources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-16, August.
    17. Yang, Tianjian & Qian, Peng & Lei, Tianyi, 2025. "Does ease of doing business promote renewable energy development? Evidence from 162 economies," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    18. Talan, Amogh & Rao, Amar & Sharma, Gagan Deep & Apostu, Simona-Andreea & Abbas, Shujaat, 2023. "Transition towards clean energy consumption in G7: Can financial sector, ICT and democracy help?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    19. Miloš Žarković & Slobodan Lakić & Jasmina Ćetković & Bojan Pejović & Srdjan Redzepagic & Irena Vodenska & Radoje Vujadinović, 2022. "Effects of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Consumption, GHG, ICT on Sustainable Economic Growth: Evidence from Old and New EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-27, August.
    20. Anupam Das & Adian McFarlane & Luc Carels, 2021. "Empirical exploration of remittances and renewable energy consumption in Bangladesh," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 65-89, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:bla:asiaps:v:12:y:2025:i:2:n:e70015. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=2050-2680 .

    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.