The impact of green innovation network embeddedness on ESG performance in energy enterprises: The mediating role of green dynamic capabilities and the moderating role of organizational agility

Abstract

Under China's “dual carbon” strategy, energy enterprises increasingly rely on green innovation networks to improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Drawing on resource orchestration theory and dynamic capability theory, this study investigates how green innovation network structural embeddedness and green innovation network relational embeddedness influence ESG performance. It also examines the mediating role of green dynamic capability and the moderating role of organizational agility. Based on survey data collected from 566 energy enterprises in Northwestern China, the study applied hierarchical regression and nonlinear mediation analyses to uncover the underlying mechanisms. The results revealed that: (1) both green innovation network structural embeddedness and relational embeddedness exhibit an inverted U-shaped relationship with ESG performance; (2) green dynamic capabilities mediate the relationship between moderate network embeddedness and ESG performance, but the mediating effect becomes insignificant under conditions of high embeddedness; and (3) organizational agility positively moderates the impact of relational network embeddedness on both green dynamic capabilities and ESG performance, with moderated mediation effects observed, while no significant moderating effect is found in the structural embeddedness pathway. These findings offer theoretical insights and practical implications for energy enterprises seeking to enhance ESG performance through effective engagement in green innovation networks.