IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i11p2717-d1663117.html

Exploring the Role of Digital Economy in Energy Optimization of Manufacturing Industry Under the Constraint of Carbon Reduction? Based on Spatial Panel Threshold Hybrid Model

Author

Listed:
  • Lingyao Wang

    (School of Internet of Things, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Taofeng Wu

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Fangrong Ren

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

Abstract

The development of the digital economy provides important opportunities and conditions for China to achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Based on panel data from 30 provinces in mainland China from 2016 to 2022, this research investigates the spatial spillover effect and nonlinear impact of the digital economy on the energy optimization of the manufacturing industry using the spatial econometric and panel threshold model. It is found that both the digital economy and energy optimization of the manufacturing industry have a significant positive spatial correlation. The spatial econometric models under different weights all illustrate that the regional digital economy has not significantly promoted energy optimization of the manufacturing industry in a local region but produced a significant positive influence on the energy optimization of the manufacturing industry in neighboring regions. In addition, the impact of the digital economy on the energy optimization of the manufacturing industry presents a significant single threshold effect. With the improvement of digital economy, energy optimization of manufacturing industry has a U-shaped change trend. This study integrates the digital economy and manufacturing energy optimization into a cohesive analytical framework, elucidating the mechanisms through which the digital economy influences the restructuring of manufacturing energy and enhances energy efficiency while providing innovative pathways and theoretical support for advancing energy efficiency under carbon emission reduction constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Lingyao Wang & Taofeng Wu & Fangrong Ren, 2025. "Exploring the Role of Digital Economy in Energy Optimization of Manufacturing Industry Under the Constraint of Carbon Reduction? Based on Spatial Panel Threshold Hybrid Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-26, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2717-:d:1663117
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2717/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/11/2717/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Feng, Suling & Zhang, Rong & Di, Danyang & Li, Guoxiang, 2024. "Does digital transformation promote global value chain upgrading? Evidence from Chinese manufacturing firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    2. Li, Xiang & Yue, Shujing, 2025. "Does the government digital attention improve China's digital economy output efficiency: Accelerator or inhibitor," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 607-625.
    3. Zou, Jing & Deng, Xiaojun, 2022. "To inhibit or to promote: How does the digital economy affect urban migrant integration in China?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. Fayuan Wang & Rong Wang & Zhili He, 2022. "Exploring the Impact of “Double Cycle” and Industrial Upgrading on Sustainable High-Quality Economic Development: Application of Spatial and Mediation Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Shuaitao Jiao & Qiubi Sun, 2021. "Digital Economic Development and Its Impact on Econimic Growth in China: Research Based on the Prespective of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Hansen, Bruce E., 1999. "Threshold effects in non-dynamic panels: Estimation, testing, and inference," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 345-368, December.
    7. Xiaohui Chen & Dou Yan & Wen Chen, 2022. "Can the digital economy promote FinTech development?," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(1), pages 221-247, March.
    8. Wang, Qiang & Dong, Zequn & Li, Rongrong & Wang, Lili, 2022. "Renewable energy and economic growth: New insight from country risks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    9. Ping Yu & Xiaodong Fan, 2021. "Threshold Regression With a Threshold Boundary," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(4), pages 953-971, October.
    10. Feng, Chao & Liu, Yu-Qi & Yang, Jun, 2024. "Do energy trade patterns affect renewable energy development? The threshold role of digital economy and economic freedom," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    11. James P. LeSage & R. Kelley Pace, 2008. "Spatial Econometric Modeling Of Origin‐Destination Flows," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(5), pages 941-967, December.
    12. Yang Liu & Yanlin Yang & Huihui Li & Kaiyang Zhong, 2022. "Digital Economy Development, Industrial Structure Upgrading and Green Total Factor Productivity: Empirical Evidence from China’s Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, February.
    13. Chenhui Ding & Chao Liu & Chuiyong Zheng & Feng Li, 2021. "Digital Economy, Technological Innovation and High-Quality Economic Development: Based on Spatial Effect and Mediation Effect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, December.
    14. Chen, Fenglan & Wang, Shanshan, 2025. "How to reshape the international competitive advantage of Chinese manufacturing enterprises: A perspective of input servitization," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 1197-1215.
    15. J. Paul Elhorst, 2014. "Dynamic Spatial Panels: Models, Methods and Inferences," SpringerBriefs in Regional Science, in: Spatial Econometrics, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 95-119, Springer.
    16. David, Lemuel Kenneth & Wang, Jianling & Brooks, William & Angel, Vanessa, 2025. "Digital transformation and socio-economic development in emerging economies: A multinational analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    17. Liu, Yi & Zhao, Xuan & Liu, Yi & Kong, Fanjun, 2023. "The dynamic impact of digital economy on the green development of traditional manufacturing industry: Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 143-160.
    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. Yihao Li & Chuanwen Yu & Jiansheng You & Jing Yang & Shaoyong Ye, 2025. "The Digital Economy, Residents’ Consumption Upgrade, and the High-Quality Development of the Sports Industry: Evidence from Eastern China," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, October.
    2. Wang, Bo & Wang, Jianda, 2025. "China’s green digital era: How does digital economy enable green economic growth?," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 4(1).
    3. Aiqin Zhang & Wenjie Zhang & Xiaoqiang Guo, 2024. "The Digital Economy, Integration of Productive Services and Manufacturing, and High-Quality Development of the Manufacturing Sector: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Yunyan Jiang & Feng Deng, 2022. "Multi-Dimensional Threshold Effects of the Digital Economy on Green Economic Growth?—New Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-22, October.
    5. Kai Zhao & Huijie Xu & Wanshu Wu, 2024. "Digital Economy and Urban Innovation Ability: From the Spatial Nonlinear Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(4), pages 21582440241, November.
    6. Mengjie Tian & Mingyong Hong & Ji Wang, 2023. "Land resources, market-oriented reform and high-quality agricultural development," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 4165-4197, December.
    7. Lixin Zhou & Caiping Qu & Li Zhi, 2024. "Research on the Impact of Digital Infrastructure on Urban Breakthrough Green Innovation: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Jingyi Qin & Qingyu Xu, 2024. "The Impact of the Digital Economy on Population Dividends in China: Based on the Dual Perspective of Quantity and Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-23, May.
    9. Xiaoxuan Li & Qi Wu, 2023. "The impact of digital economy on high-quality economic development: Research based on the consumption expansion," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, December.
    10. Liu, Yiling & Lin, Yu-Cheng, 2025. "Converting knowledge into Productivity: The role of intellectual property empowerment and digital economy in enhancing regional new quality productivity forces - Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    11. Yuxin Fang & Hongjun Cao & Jihui Sun, 2022. "Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Regional Green Development under China’s Environmental Decentralization System—Based on Spatial Durbin Model and Threshold Effect," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-27, November.
    12. Wei Yang & Qiuxia Chen & Qiuqi Guo & Xiaoting Huang, 2022. "Towards Sustainable Development: How Digitalization, Technological Innovation, and Green Economic Development Interact with Each Other," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, September.
    13. Shao, Hanhua & Wang, Yaning & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wen, Huwei, 2024. "How does political stability affect renewable energy finance? International evidence," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    14. Feng, Chao & Liu, Yu-Qi & Yang, Jun, 2024. "Do energy trade patterns affect renewable energy development? The threshold role of digital economy and economic freedom," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    15. Hao, Yu & Guo, Yunxia & Li, Suixin & Luo, Shiyue & Jiang, Xueting & Shen, Zhiyang & Wu, Haitao, 2022. "Towards achieving the sustainable development goal of industry: How does industrial agglomeration affect air pollution?," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 1(1).
    16. Jun Liu & Changchun Lin & Xin Wang & Xiuli Liu, 2024. "Spatiotemporal differentiation and analysis of factors influencing high-quality development of resource-based cities: An empirical study based in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(5), pages 1-23, May.
    17. Fan, Xiaoyan & Ding, Guoxuan & Long, Shuting & Dong, Yiran & Yan, Jiajun, 2025. "Digital divide or dividend? Exploring the impact of digital economy on regional gaps of high-quality economic development in China using relational data model," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    18. Chen, Wanxu & Chi, Guangqing & Li, Jiangfeng, 2020. "The spatial aspect of ecosystem services balance and its determinants," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    19. Senhua Huang & Wenzhong Ye & Feng Han, 2023. "Does the Digital Economy Promote Industrial Collaboration and Agglomeration? Evidence from 286 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-24, October.
    20. Deng, Yaling & You, Daming & Wang, Jingjing, 2022. "Research on the nonlinear mechanism underlying the effect of tax competition on green technology innovation - An analysis based on the dynamic spatial Durbin model and the threshold panel model," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

    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:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:11:p:2717-:d:1663117. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.