Spatial Effects of Energy System Digitization on Carbon Emissions: Evidence from China

Abstract

This study empirically examines the spatial effects and spatial mechanisms of energy system digitization on carbon emissions by using the projection pursuit method and spatial Durbin model with panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021 as samples. The results show that (1) the digitization of the energy system reduces the carbon emission intensity of the surrounding areas by 2.069%, which has a significant spatial emission reduction effect. (2) Technological innovation and industrial structure optimization are important spatial impact mechanisms. (3) The spatial emission reduction effect of energy system digitization is significant in the eastern region, but not in the central and western regions, indicating that the spatial emission reduction effect of energy system digitization is spatially heterogeneous.