Clean energy transition and enhanced global value chain positioning: The moderating influence of the digital economy

Global climate governance is advancing steadily, and energy technology is undergoing rapid innovation. The transition to clean energy has become the core path for countries to achieve their sustainable development goals. The large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, as well as breakthroughs in technologies like energy storage and smart grids, are profoundly changing the global energy structure and exerting a far-reaching impact on the industrial system, trade model, and economic growth mode. Amid concurrent global value chain (GVC) restructuring and climate change challenges, understanding how the clean energy transition (CT) affects a country’s position within the global division of labor is a critical concern. Using a panel dataset of countries from 2013 to 2021, this study empirically examines the impact of the CT on GVC status using a two-way fixed effects model. The findings reveal that the CT significantly enhances countries’ GVC status. Mechanism analysis indicates that digital economy development and political stability have a positive moderating effect on this enhancement. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the promotional effect of the CT is more pronounced for countries with a smaller economic institutional distance and those with lower energy productivity. These findings provide empirical evidence for policymakers to synergistically develop the digital economy and optimize institutional environments while advancing the energy transition to maximize its benefits for industrial upgrading.