Assessing the Impact of Industrial Robot Application on Urban Electricity Consumption in China

The widespread application of industrial robots in China has significantly enhanced productivity, yet their impact on the energy system remains underexplored. This study empirically examines the impact of industrial robot application (IRA) on electricity intensity using panel data from 281 Chinese cities spanning 2006 to 2019 and a two-way fixed effects model. The results demonstrate that for every one-unit increase in IRA’s penetration rate, total electricity consumption and industrial electricity consumption decrease by 0.01 and 0.032 units, respectively. The effect operates through several mechanisms, including technological innovation, industrial agglomeration, and structural optimization. Despite these overall positive trends, the influence of IRA on electricity consumption exhibits notable regional heterogeneity. Furthermore, the study uncovers evidence of spatial spillover effects, indicating that the electricity-saving benefits of IRA extend beyond their immediate regions to neighboring cities. This phenomenon also contributes to narrowing the inter-city electricity gap, fostering a convergence in electricity consumption patterns among cities. These findings underscore the potential of industrial robots as a viable policy tool for advancing energy conservation and emission reduction goals.