IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecanpo/v87y2025icp1575-1594.html

Empowering resilience of urban energy system in China: How does digital economy matter?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhao, Jun
  • Lei, Yalin
  • Huang, Hongyun
  • Zhao, Xiaomeng

Abstract

Empowering energy security with the digital economy is a vital national strategic initiative, and it is urgent to explore whether China’s urban energy system can leverage the opportunities of the digital economy to enhance its resilience. We, thus, take 286 cities as research objects, construct an energy system resilience (ESR) index system from three dimensions of robustness, recoverability, and adaptability, and gauge the urban ESR from 2010 to 2019. On this basis, this article quantitatively discusses the actual effect and heterogeneity of the digital economy on urban ESR. We find: (1) the ESR values of 286 cities show a stable situation followed by an obvious increase and a sharp decline from 2010 to 2019, and cities with higher and lower ESR levels are located in the northeast and southwest China, respectively; (2) the current development of the digital economy cannot stimulate and empower urban ESR enhancement, which stems from the negative impacts of the digital economy on energy productivity and industrial upgrading; and (3) the negative digitization-ESR nexus is mainly manifested in the midwestern cities, middle- and small-scale cities, non-provincial capitals, and the middle Yangtze River and Chongqing-Chengdu cities. This study, consequently, proposes some targeted policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Jun & Lei, Yalin & Huang, Hongyun & Zhao, Xiaomeng, 2025. "Empowering resilience of urban energy system in China: How does digital economy matter?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1575-1594.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:87:y:2025:i:c:p:1575-1594
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2025.07.031
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0313592625003054
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.eap.2025.07.031?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. Duan, Wenqi & Madasi, Joseph David & Khurshid, Adnan & Ma, Dan, 2022. "Industrial structure conditions economic resilience," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    2. Teece, David J., 2018. "Profiting from innovation in the digital economy: Enabling technologies, standards, and licensing models in the wireless world," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(8), pages 1367-1387.
    3. Yu, Zehui & Li, Yiming & Dai, Lihua, 2023. "Digital finance and regional economic resilience: Theoretical framework and empirical test," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    4. Jingshan Gu & Zongting Liu, 2024. "A study of the coupling between the digital economy and regional economic resilience: Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(1), pages 1-30, January.
    5. Ahmadi, Somayeh & Saboohi, Yadollah & Vakili, Ali, 2021. "Frameworks, quantitative indicators, characters, and modeling approaches to analysis of energy system resilience: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    6. Zhao, Jun & Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng, 2024. "How does energy poverty eradication affect global carbon neutrality?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    7. Zhang, Zhenhua & Zhao, Mingcheng & Chen, Yongxi & Song, Melody C. & Gao, Yue & Feng, Yanchao, 2025. "The nexus between energy legislation, energy transition, and energy resilience: Evidence from 55 countries worldwide," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    8. Copestake, Alexander & Estefania-Flores, Julia & Furceri, Davide, 2024. "Digitalization and resilience," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    9. Santos, Susana C. & Liguori, Eric W. & Garvey, Erin, 2023. "How digitalization reinvented entrepreneurial resilience during COVID-19," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Perera, A.T.D. & Hong, Tianzhen, 2023. "Vulnerability and resilience of urban energy ecosystems to extreme climate events: A systematic review and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    11. Du, Yanan & Wang, Qingxi & Zhou, Jianping, 2023. "How does digital inclusive finance affect economic resilience: Evidence from 285 cities in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    12. Shahbaz, Muhammad & Wang, Jianda & Dong, Kangyin & Zhao, Jun, 2022. "The impact of digital economy on energy transition across the globe: The mediating role of government governance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    13. Aldieri, Luigi & Gatto, Andrea & Vinci, Concetto Paolo, 2021. "Evaluation of energy resilience and adaptation policies: An energy efficiency analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    14. Moslehi, Salim & Reddy, T. Agami, 2018. "Sustainability of integrated energy systems: A performance-based resilience assessment methodology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 487-498.
    15. Hou, Jianchao & Wang, Che & Luo, Sai, 2020. "How to improve the competiveness of distributed energy resources in China with blockchain technology," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    16. Roege, Paul E. & Collier, Zachary A. & Mancillas, James & McDonagh, John A. & Linkov, Igor, 2014. "Metrics for energy resilience," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 249-256.
    17. Wang, Bo & Zhao, Jun & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2022. "High-quality energy development in China: Comprehensive assessment and its impact on CO2 emissions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    18. El Baz, Jamal & Ruel, Salomée, 2024. "Achieving social performance through digitalization and supply chain resilience in the COVID-19 disruption era: An empirical examination based on a stakeholder dynamic capabilities view," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    19. Long Seng To & Anna Bruce & Paul Munro & Edoardo Santagata & Iain MacGill & Manu Rawali & Atul Raturi, 2021. "A research and innovation agenda for energy resilience in Pacific Island Countries and Territories," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 6(12), pages 1098-1103, December.
    20. Mishra, Dillip Kumar & Ghadi, Mojtaba Jabbari & Azizivahed, Ali & Li, Li & Zhang, Jiangfeng, 2021. "A review on resilience studies in active distribution systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    21. Jasiūnas, Justinas & Lund, Peter D. & Mikkola, Jani, 2021. "Energy system resilience – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    22. Molyneaux, Lynette & Brown, Colin & Wagner, Liam & Foster, John, 2016. "Measuring resilience in energy systems: Insights from a range of disciplines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1068-1079.
    23. Xiaodong Yang & Yang Xu & Asif Razzaq & Desheng Wu & Jianhong Cao & Qiying Ran, 2024. "Roadmap to achieving sustainable development: Does digital economy matter in industrial green transformation?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(3), pages 2583-2599, June.
    24. Michelle Graff & Sanya Carley, 2020. "COVID-19 assistance needs to target energy insecurity," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 352-354, May.
    25. Zhao, Jun & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Dong, Kangyin, 2022. "How does energy poverty eradication promote green growth in China? The role of technological innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    26. Feng, Yanchao & Yan, Tong & Hu, Shilei & Zhang, Zhenhua, 2025. "The impact of digital inclusive finance on household carbon emissions: Empirical evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    27. Ang, B.W. & Choong, W.L. & Ng, T.S., 2015. "Energy security: Definitions, dimensions and indexes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1077-1093.
    28. Zhang, Long & Yu, Jing & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Ren, Jingzheng, 2017. "Measuring energy security performance within China: Toward an inter-provincial prospective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 825-836.
    29. Gatto, Andrea & Drago, Carlo, 2020. "Measuring and modeling energy resilience," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    30. Adriana Reveiu & Maria Denisa Vasilescu & Alexandru Banica, 2023. "Digital divide across the European Union and labour market resilience," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(12), pages 2391-2405, December.
    31. Zhang, Zhenhua & Wu, Huangbin & Zhang, Yunpeng & Hu, Shilei & Pan, Yuxi & Feng, Yanchao, 2024. "Does digital global value chain participation reduce energy resilience? Evidence from 49 countries worldwide," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    32. Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng & Jiang, Qingzhe & Zhao, Jun, 2021. "Assessing energy resilience and its greenhouse effect: A global perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    33. Silva, C.A. & Vilaça, R. & Pereira, A. & Bessa, R.J., 2024. "A review on the decarbonization of high-performance computing centers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    34. ., 2024. "Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)," Chapters, in: EU Banking and Financial Regulation, chapter 76, pages 670-676, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    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. Zhang, Zhenhua & Wu, Huangbin & Zhang, Yunpeng & Hu, Shilei & Pan, Yuxi & Feng, Yanchao, 2024. "Does digital global value chain participation reduce energy resilience? Evidence from 49 countries worldwide," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    2. Wei, Tie & Yalikun, Tuerhong & Duan, Zhicheng & Yao, Xiao, 2025. "Regional disparities and variation sources decomposition of energy system resilience in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 330(C).
    3. Schmitz, Richard & Flachsbarth, Franziska & Plaga, Leonie Sara & Braun, Martin & Härtel, Philipp, 2025. "Energy security and resilience: Revisiting concepts and advancing planning perspectives for transforming integrated energy systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    4. Wan, Kaidi & Liu, Bing-Yue & Fan, Ying & Ikonnikova, Svetlana A., 2024. "Modelling and assessing dynamic energy supply resilience to disruption events: An oil supply disruption case in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    5. Yang, Jingna & Zhou, Kaile & Hu, Rong, 2024. "City-level resilience assessment of integrated energy systems in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    6. Zhang, Zhenhua & Zhao, Mingcheng & Chen, Yongxi & Song, Melody C. & Gao, Yue & Feng, Yanchao, 2025. "The nexus between energy legislation, energy transition, and energy resilience: Evidence from 55 countries worldwide," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    7. Andrea Gatto & Carlo Drago, 2026. "On energy resilience and energy vulnerability measurement," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 2643-2646, February.
    8. Olaoluwa Paul Aasa & Sarah Phoya & Rehema Joseph Monko & Innocent Musonda, 2025. "Integrating Sustainability and Resilience Objectives for Energy Decisions: A Systematic Review," Resources, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-41, June.
    9. Jasiūnas, Justinas & Lund, Peter D. & Mikkola, Jani, 2021. "Energy system resilience – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    10. Wan, Kaidi & Fan, Ying & Liu, Bing-Yue, 2025. "Energy supply resilience under low-carbon transition: Long-term multi-national assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    11. Gao, Zhiyuan & Zhao, Ying & Li, Lianqing & Hao, Yu, 2025. "How does supply chain digitalization enhance energy resilience? Empirical evidence from listed companies in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    12. Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe & Liu, Yang & Shen, Zhiyang & Vardanyan, Michael, 2024. "Is energy aid allocated fairly? A global energy vulnerability perspective," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    13. Mo, Shu & Liu, Xinghua, 2025. "Strengthening the resilience of urban energy systems amid renewable energy transition: A new method based on double machine learning," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    14. Dong, Kangyin & Dong, Xiucheng & Jiang, Qingzhe & Zhao, Jun, 2021. "Assessing energy resilience and its greenhouse effect: A global perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    15. Göteman, Malin & Panteli, Mathaios & Rutgersson, Anna & Hayez, Léa & Virtanen, Mikko J. & Anvari, Mehrnaz & Johansson, Jonas, 2025. "Resilience of offshore renewable energy systems to extreme metocean conditions: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    16. Mujjuni, F. & Betts, T. & To, L.S. & Blanchard, R.E., 2021. "Resilience a means to development: A resilience assessment framework and a catalogue of indicators," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    17. Gao, Lan & Wang, Jing, 2025. "Can artificial intelligence reduce energy vulnerability? Evidence from an international perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    18. Liu, Yang & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2023. "Assessing energy vulnerability and its impact on carbon emissions: A global case," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    19. Doğan, Buhari & Khalfaoui, Rabeh & Bergougui, Brahim & Ghosh, Sudeshna, 2025. "Unveiling the impact of the digital economy on the interplay of energy transition, environmental transformation, and renewable energy adoption," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    20. Dario Guarascio & Jelena Reljic & Francesco Zezza, 2025. "Energy vulnerability and resilience in the EU: concepts, empirics and policy," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 52(3), pages 683-726, September.

    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:ecanpo:v:87:y:2025:i:c:p:1575-1594. 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/economic-analysis-and-policy .

    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.