Spatio-temporal evolution of energy efficiency and its influencing factors in energy-rich provinces

QIN Fang; SHI Xiujuan; WANG Zhiqiang

Abstract：Constrained by resource endowments,provinces rich in energy resources tend to have resource—oriented industrial structures.Enhancing energy efficiency is a crucial pathway for energy-rich regions to achieve the"dual carbon"goals.This study measures the total-factor energy efficiency of ten energy-rich provinces in China using the Slacks-Based Measure-Data Envelopment Analysis(SBM-DEA)model and Global Malmquist-Luenberger(GML)index model,presenting the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics and patterns of energy efficiency in these provinces.Spatial exploratory analysis methods are employed to investigate spatial agglomeration features,while a Tobit regression analysis model is used to explore the factors influencing energy efficiency in energy-rich provinces.The research findings are as follows:① During the study period,the overall energy efficiency of energy-rich provinces was relatively low.Liaoning Province exhibited the highest energy efficiency,ranking in the first tier with an average annual efficiency value of 0.701,followed by Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in the second tier,and the remaining provinces in the third tier;② Spatially,the northwestern regions among energy-rich provinces are mainly characterized by low-low agglomeration,while the northeastern regions show high-low agglomeration,with Jilin and Heilongjiang exhibiting a trend of transitioning from low agglomeration to high agglomeration;③ Economic development has a positive and significant impact on energy efficiency,while the coal-dominated energy structure,population size,and environmental regulations have negative and significant impacts on energy efficiency.Measures such as leveraging the supporting role of technological innovation,implementing energy conservation and emission reduction policies,and encouraging coordinated development can help improve energy efficiency and facilitate regions in achieving the"dual carbon"goals.