IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v323y2022ics0306261922006791.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impacts of digital technology on energy sustainability: China case study

Author

Listed:
  • Wang, Jiangquan
  • Ma, Xiaowei
  • Zhang, Jun
  • Zhao, Xin

Abstract

Energy resources are inseparable from the activities of human society, making the sustainable development of energy a global goal. This study aims to apply quantitative methods to measure the impact of digital technology on energy sustainability. This study explained the connotation of sustainable energy development and analyzed the role of digital technology therein by constructing an evaluation index system for the level of digital technology based on digital infrastructure, the popularization of digital equipment, and the application of digital technology. Then, using Chinese time-series data 2002–2019, the entropy weight technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution method was adopted to evaluate China’s digital technology development level. Finally, a vector autoregressive model was established to study the interrelations between China’s digital technology and sustainable energy development based on energy production, supply, consumption, and environmental protection. The results showed that China’s digital technology level has improved significantly since 2002. This has effectively promoted sustainable energy development, as reflected in the growth of the output of the energy industry, drop in energy supply losses, reduced energy consumption, and decrease in energy-related environmental pollution. The latter two have been significantly affected by digital technology, whereas the effects of digital technology on the first two were relatively limited. Moreover, while the effects of digital technology on energy production, supply, and consumption are long-lasting, the effects on energy-related environmental protection are relatively short-lived. In addition, while digital technology has helped China to reduce its SO2 emissions, it has had a limited effect on curbing CO2 emissions. To ensure sustainable energy development, China should take multiple measures to fully realize the benefits of digital technology through diverse environmental regulations and policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Jiangquan & Ma, Xiaowei & Zhang, Jun & Zhao, Xin, 2022. "Impacts of digital technology on energy sustainability: China case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:323:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922006791
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119329
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261922006791
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119329?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mukherjee, Kankana, 2008. "Energy use efficiency in the Indian manufacturing sector: An interstate analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 662-672, February.
    2. Nina Czernich & Oliver Falck & Tobias Kretschmer & Ludger Woessmann, 2011. "Broadband Infrastructure and Economic Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 121(552), pages 505-532, May.
    3. Wang, Jiangquan & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Song, Malin, 2021. "Evaluating energy economic security and its influencing factors in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    4. Frondel, Manuel & Schmidt, Christoph M., 2008. "Measuring Energy Security – A Conceptual Note," Ruhr Economic Papers 52, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    5. Dickey, David A & Fuller, Wayne A, 1981. "Likelihood Ratio Statistics for Autoregressive Time Series with a Unit Root," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 49(4), pages 1057-1072, June.
    6. Bretschger, Lucas, 2005. "Economics of technological change and the natural environment: How effective are innovations as a remedy for resource scarcity?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(2-3), pages 148-163, August.
    7. van Zon, Adriaan & Yetkiner, I. Hakan, 2003. "An endogenous growth model with embodied energy-saving technical change," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 81-103, February.
    8. Sims, Christopher A, 1980. "Macroeconomics and Reality," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 48(1), pages 1-48, January.
    9. Guoqiang Wu & Jinhyun Hong & Piyushimita Thakuriah, 2022. "Investigating the temporal changes in the relationships between time spent on the internet and non-mandatory activity-travel time use," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 213-235, February.
    10. Mukherjee, Kankana, 2008. "Energy use efficiency in U.S. manufacturing: A nonparametric analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 76-96, January.
    11. Imbulana Arachchi, Janaki & Managi, Shunsuke, 2021. "Preferences for energy sustainability: Different effects of gender on knowledge and importance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    12. Alexey I. Shinkevich, 2020. "Modeling the Efficiency of Using Digital Technologies of Energy and Resource Saving Technologies at Petrochemical Enterprises," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 1-6.
    13. Wang, Lei & Chen, Yangyang & Ramsey, Thomas Stephen & Hewings, Geoffrey J.D., 2021. "Will researching digital technology really empower green development?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    14. Li, Raymond & Shiu, Alice, 2012. "Internet diffusion in China: A dynamic panel data analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 872-887.
    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. Wang, Jiangquan & Nghiem, Xuan-Hoa & Jabeen, Fauzia & Luqman, Adeel & Song, Malin, 2023. "Integrated development of digital and energy industries: Paving the way for carbon emission reduction," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Bierens, H.J. & Broersma, L., 1991. "The relation between unemployment and interest rate : some international evidence," Serie Research Memoranda 0112, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    3. Xu, Haifeng & Hamori, Shigeyuki, 2012. "Dynamic linkages of stock prices between the BRICs and the United States: Effects of the 2008–09 financial crisis," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 344-352.
    4. Webber, A., 1999. "Newton's Gravity Law and Import Prices in the Asia Pacific," Economics Working Papers WP99-12, School of Economics, University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
    5. Pawel Milobedzki, 2010. "The Term Structure of the Polish Interbank Rates. A Note on the Symmetry of their Reversion to the Mean," Dynamic Econometric Models, Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, vol. 10, pages 81-95.
    6. M. T. Alguacil & V. Orts, 2003. "Inward Foreign Direct Investment and Imports in Spain," International Economic Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 19-38.
    7. Xiaoxiao Liu & Wei Wang, 2025. "Improving Sliding Window Effect of LSTM in Stock Prediction Based on Econometrics Theory," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 65(4), pages 2057-2080, April.
    8. Vicente Meneu & Hipòlit Torró, 2003. "Asymmetric covariance in spot‐futures markets," Journal of Futures Markets, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(11), pages 1019-1046, November.
    9. Sayef Bakari & Sofien Tiba & Nissar Fakraoui, 2019. "Does Domestic Investment Contribute To Economic Growth In Uruguay? What Did The Empirical Facts Say?," Journal of Smart Economic Growth, , vol. 4(2), pages 53-69, September.
    10. Morgenroth, Edgar & FitzGerald, John & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Summary and Conclusions," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, chapter 24, pages 317-333, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
      • Baker, Terence J. & FitzGerald, John & Honohan, Patrick & FitzGerald, John & Honohan, Patrick, 1996. "Summary and Conclusions," Book Chapters, in: Baker, Terence J. (ed.),Economic Implications for Ireland of EMU, chapter 12, pages 339-352, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    11. M. Hakan Berument & Zulal Denaux & Yeliz Yalcin, 2012. "Turkish monetary policy and components of aggregate demand: a VAR analysis with sign restrictions model," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(36), pages 4787-4798, December.
    12. Eva Liljeblom & Sabur Mollah & Patrik Rotter, 2015. "Do dividends signal future earnings in the Nordic stock markets?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 493-511, April.
    13. Yuksel ILTAS & Umit BULUT, 2016. "The relationships among the returns of investment instruments: a vector autoregressive approach for Turkey," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania - AGER, vol. 0(4(609), W), pages 273-280, Winter.
    14. Johannes W. Fedderke, 2022. "Identifying steady‐state growth and inflation in the South African economy, 1960–2020," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 90(3), pages 279-300, September.
    15. Xu, T.T., 2012. "The role of credit in international business cycles," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1202, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    16. Hang, Ye & Sun, Jiasen & Wang, Qunwei & Zhao, Zengyao & Wang, Yizhong, 2015. "Measuring energy inefficiency with undesirable outputs and technology heterogeneity in Chinese cities," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 46-52.
    17. Baker, Terence J. & FitzGerald, John & Honohan, Patrick & FitzGerald, John & Honohan, Patrick, 1996. "Introduction," Book Chapters, in: Baker, Terence J. (ed.),Economic Implications for Ireland of EMU, chapter 1, pages 1-9, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    18. J. Mark MUNOZ & Al NAQVI, 2017. "Artificial Intelligence and Urbanization: The Rise of the Elysium City," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 1-13, March.
    19. Erdal Demirhan & Banu Demirhan, 2015. "The Dynamic Effect of ExchangeRate Volatility on Turkish Exports: Parsimonious Error-Correction Model Approach," Panoeconomicus, Savez ekonomista Vojvodine, Novi Sad, Serbia, vol. 62(4), pages 429-451, September.
    20. Jean Louis EKOMANE, 2017. "Monetary policy transmission: Does the credit channel perform in Cameroon?," Turkish Economic Review, KSP Journals, vol. 4(4), pages 369-377, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:eee:appene:v:323:y:2022:i:c:s0306261922006791. 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.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    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.