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Climate protection potentials of digitalized production processes: Microeconometric evidence?

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  • Axenbeck, Janna
  • Niebel, Thomas

Abstract

Although information and communication technologies (ICT) consume energy themselves, they are considered to have the potential to reduce overall energy intensity within economic sectors. While previous empirical evidence is based on aggregated data, this is the first large-scale empirical study on the relationship between ICT and energy intensity at the firm level. For this purpose, we employ administrative panel data on 28,600 manufacturing firms from German Statistical Offices collected between 2009 and 2017. Our results confirm a statistically significant and robust negative link between software capital as an indicator for the firm-level degree of digitalization and energy intensity, but the effect size is rather small. Hence, we conclude that energy intensity reductions related to the use of digital technologies are lower than expected.

Suggested Citation

  • Axenbeck, Janna & Niebel, Thomas, 2021. "Climate protection potentials of digitalized production processes: Microeconometric evidence?," ZEW Discussion Papers 21-105, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:21105
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    Cited by:

    1. Horbach, Jens, 2023. "Digitalisation and sustainability strategies at the firm level," Ruhr Economic Papers 1001, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen, revised 2023.
    2. Kren, Janez & Lawless, Martina, 2023. "Firm-level attitudes and actions to the “Twin Transition” challenges of digitalisation and climate change," Papers WP742, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    3. Alexander Schiersch & Irene Bertschek & Thomas Niebel, 2023. "Diversify or Not? – The Link between Global Sourcing of ICT Goods and Firm Performance," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 2043, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    4. Axenbeck, Janna & Berner, Anne & Kneib, Thomas, 2022. "What drives the relationship between digitalization and industrial energy demand? Exploring firm-level heterogeneity," ZEW Discussion Papers 22-059, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ICT; Firm-level panel data; Energy intensity improvements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General

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