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The impact of winter clean heating pilot on Chinese green energy efficiency—Based on multi-period difference-in-differences method

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  • Hong, Wei
  • Li, Jun

Abstract

The clean energy transition effectively improved air quality, but also stimulated energy consumption and economic performance, causing complex impacts on overall energy efficiency. So what is the comprehensive impact of energy transition on energy efficiency considering air pollution? This paper used the stochastic frontier method to calculate the green energy efficiency of prefecture-level cities based on 7 years panel data of 280 prefecture-level cities in China, and adopted group-timing treatment effect estimator to study the dynamic and heterogeneous impact of Central Financial Support for Winter Clean Heating Pilot in the Northern Region on green energy efficiency. The results indicate the pilot increased cities’ green energy efficiency by an average of 0.00444. The improvement was significant only in early group of year 2017 and 2018, and the clean heating policy enhanced green energy efficiency after three years of implementation. Clean heating pilot affects green energy efficiency by improving air quality, stimulating energy consumption directly, and promoting green technology innovation indirectly, with enhance green energy efficiency of neighboring cities simultaneously. Our findings provide useful references for balancing environmental protection and economic development, as well as achieving sustainable energy utilization.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong, Wei & Li, Jun, 2025. "The impact of winter clean heating pilot on Chinese green energy efficiency—Based on multi-period difference-in-differences method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:328:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225020857
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.136443
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